Yesterday I attended a Celebration Of Life for a Brother I hardly knew. The fact that there is twenty years difference in our ages almost makes us come from a different generation.
As I sat at that wonderful Celebration I learned more about Doug and his family than I had in almost fifty nine years that I knew him.
He never talked to me about his deep, abiding faith in God. The people who took part in the service made that abundantly clear.
I always enjoyed visiting with him about his work and about some of the characters we both were acquainted with.
He had left a legacy of a close knit family and many,many friends.
Doug’s premature death has made me recognize that I should be ready because we never know when our time will come.
6 comments:
Wonderful post, Grandpa...it brought tears to my eyes. :)
I love you! See you in a few weeks!
Thank you for sharing this. I am so blessed to read it. Sometimes it's hard for me to be open about my faith with my brothers and sisters for fear they might think i'm a weirdo. I know it's silly but their opinion means a lot to me. I know that i am a lot like my dad in many ways so maybe he felt the same way. I know that he loved you. and I know I love you. It's been great to have spent so much time with you and Mary. We need to keep it up.
this was great! thanks for posting. I love you!
~Robbyn
Charles, I'm thankful that you were there to be a part of the Celebration of Doug's life and that his deep abiding faith in God was made "abundantly clear" to you.
You wrote: “Doug’s premature death has made me recognize that I should be ready because we never know when our time will come.” How true that is, as we so shockingly found out with Doug’s own passing.
I want you to know that you and Mary have been in my prayers and those of Kathy and Doug for quite some time. On Friday night I prayed that God would give me an open door to speak with you about your eternity...reading your ‘blogspot’ I will take this as my open door.
The Bible says that ‘it is appointed unto man once to die’ as much as we did not like it, Doug had and kept his appointment. Because of his faith in Jesus Christ, we know that he not only stepped into the loving arms of Jesus…but it was his step into eternity.
Everyone will have eternity. Not everyone will spend it in heaven. As Pastor Mike said, ‘it’s as simple as saying, “Come into my heart Lord Jesus.” The Bible says, ‘No one comes to the Father but by Me.”
Charles the choice has been laid out for you very simply…and very simply all you have to do is say, Come into my heart Lord Jesus, and when it’s time for ‘your appointment’ you will be with all those who went on before you…those who had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The other choice is simple as well…don’t ask Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior, and spend eternity in hell, forever separated…forever…eternity.
I know that Doug and Kathy and all of the Stuelke’s…and my parents (Don & Josephine) and me too…we all love you and Mary and your family. And we want to spend eternity in heaven with you…won’t you consider the choices…what have you got to lose? What have you got to gain…Heaven…eternity with those who, in Christ died and went on ahead…sins forgiven…
You said “that I should be ready because we never know when our time will come.” You should be ready…and all you have to do is say, “Lord forgive me, I have sinned. I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins. I invite You to come and live in my heart.”
If you prayed that then Jesus has cleansed you from your sins and now lives inside your heart… share it with those you love…and with those who love you! Share it with me too, ok Charles? I love you!
Tricia Blake tkblake@riveroflife.org
Pop,
I love your blog! Your post about Doug was very sweet. I LOVE the video (previous post). You can really dance, it must be the new knees! and I never knew Mom had such good rhythm and jive.
Lots of love and hugs,
Linda
Grandpa,
Thanks for sending me your link! This blog made me smile. How great it is that Doug's faith reached you through his family. God will reach you by any means necessary, you just need to reach out to him when you're ready. Love you. Miss you.
<3 Meg
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