Friday, August 13, 2010...

All of us that knew my grandfather can think of many, many things that he was good at and enjoyed.

Woodworking, reading, gardening, farming, fixing just about anything, trivia, puzzles (especially Wheel of Fortune)...Grandpa was good at many things.

But the one thing that I kept coming back to was actually something he wasn't very good at. It was being alone.

For the past 4 years my grandpa has been very lonely. Yes, he had his 3 daughters very close to him but the love of his life had gone before him and that left him feeling very alone. You see, when you are married to your bride for 64 years, when you have given your heart and soul to someone, when you have raised a wonderful family together that might just happen.

There is a very popular set of verses from the bible that might sound familiar to you that represent my grandfather's love...

1 Corinthians Chapter 13 verses 4-13:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. but where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled, where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. but the greatest of these is love."

If you don't mind please allow me one good minute to boast. I am standing before you to say that our family should be darn proud of ourselves. Mac and Eva McMurray raised 3 smart, competent, beautiful (inside and out) women who married strong, competent and supportive men who all know that with faith, hope and especially love you can raise children who are smart, competent and beautiful people. Thank you grandpa for always, always putting your family first. Pam, Michele and Kris can give countless examples of how you went without so that they always had. And I know that they have all done the same for their children. I am the woman, wife and the parent I am today because of the values that you taught all of us, Grandpa.

It use to break my heart to think that my Grandpa was so lonely but we all can be comforted today knowing that he isn't alone, isn't in any pain, and has been reunited with my Grandma.

I miss you Grandpa but I am so happy that you are now our angel.