Papa

When my grandfather died, my grandmother asked me to say something at his funeral.  I found a copy of what I said the other day when I was cleaning out a drawer and wanted to post it...mostly so that I have a copy saved.

I want to say a few words about my sweet grandfather.  He loved his family very much and was so proud of us all.  We all have such wonderful memories that we will cherish of him.  Being the first grandchild, I got to spend a lot of time with Papa and Mama Re when I was little, going to the country and up to the lake.  I would spend the night with them and sleep right in the middle.  He loved to later tell me of how I would smack him in the middle of the night when he got to snoring and say, "Hush Papa!"  He loved to aggravate and would grab me by the ankle and tickle my feet until I couldn't breathe…all the time laughing and mocking me saying "quit it Papa!"  I loved to see him do that to my kids, too.  I remember him cleaning fish at the lake and us having fish fries.  I can see him now sitting around in his pajamas at night watching the Braves play in his recliner.  He would never watch any of "that make believe"  on TV…just news and sports.  I always liked going to Fripp Island with the family.  Papa would catch us tons of crabs and we would eat and eat!  I used to fuss at him for putting that stinky bait in the refrigerator.  We went camping sometimes in the fall in their camper.  He would man the fire and cook us big breakfasts in the morning.  He and Mama Re were always there at our ball games, recitals, and graduations.  He would always tell me that I was "something else".  That's how he felt about all of us…we were something else.  I will miss walking into their house and seeing him in his chair…eating Papa John's pizza and fruit salad.  As soon as he would see me his face would light up and he would say, "Hey pretty girl!"  We all feel a sadness because he is gone and we will miss him.  Family gatherings just won't be the same.  Who will take up the role of making slightly inappropriate or sometimes just outright inappropriate remarks?  Who will fuss at us when we watch make believe on TV?  Who will sell our cars for us and find us new ones?  Who will call us and when we answer ask us, "Who are you?"  Who will tell us when we walk through the room to "slow down or you'll get a speeding ticket!"  Yes, we will miss him.  But we cannot really be too sad, because we know that the scripture teaches us that to be absent from the body is to be present with God.  Today, Papa is in the presence of God.  He is not sick and tired and old.  He went from suffering to glory in one breath.  What a hope we have in Jesus Christ!  We celebrate Papa's life today and know that one day we will see him again.  Until then, we will follow his example on this earth by treasuring our friendships, loving our families deeply, and mixing it all with a whole lot of laughter.