My Grandpa died on Saturday night, not completely unexpectedly, but very suddenly. He hadn’t been in good health for a few weeks, and it just seemed like things were winding down for his time here on earth. But still, when I got the call Saturday that he had collapsed at home, I was surprised. I guess you’re never ready for that call.
My cousin Mackenzie, (who is also one of my favorite commenters on this here blog) and her daughter Molly had just flown in from North Carolina to visit. My grandparents had not yet gotten to meet Molly, who is about 15 months old. They visited for several hours, and about four hours after they left, he collapsed and passed quickly away. I think it’s safe to say that meeting Molly was his last important business that needed to be conducted here. I love that her sweet face occupied most of his last day.
Charles Marvin Brads, Sr., always called Marvin, would have been 89 on the 28th of this month. He was husband to my Grandma for 71 years, father of 5, grandfather of 8, great-grandfather of 15 (soon to be 16. When I was pregnant with Joshua he said, “I hope I live to see your first baby.” I wish he could have lived to meet my last!) He was a soldier in World War 2 and Korea, a pastor, preacher, and friend to many.
Though I have shed many tears the past couple of days, they weren’t for him. They were for me, my cousins, my father, my aunts and uncles, and my Grandmother, and for all those who loved him and will miss him terribly. I didn’t shed any tears for him because I know he is with Jesus, and he’s had his eyes on heaven for a long, long time. He was a Baptist preacher and pastor for years and years and years and I know he had an amazing reception at heaven’s gates. He touched so many lives, I can only imagine the huge numbers of people who will turn out for his visitation and services this week. So many will have so many different memories of him, because they knew him as different things. To me he was always Grandpa, but to practically a whole little town, he was “Brother Brads”.
I’d like to tell you a few things I loved about my Grandpa. He wasn’t a perfect man, I know that, but he was a really awesome Grandpa.
There are three things that will always remind me of my Grandpa: Dairy Queen, Eeyore, and the Bible being read aloud. Just writing that sentence makes me smile.
My Grandpa took me (and I suppose other of his grandchildren as well, but since I was a typical child and was the center of my own world, I remember it just being me) to Dairy Queen in his small town of Germantown a lot. Frequently enough that I never pass a Dairy Queen without thinking of him. The man taught me to love butterscotch dipped cones and Dilly Bars! He taught me that I was special enough to spend time with, and to take joy in the simple things. I think as you read this, I may just be at Dairy Queen having a dipped cone in his honor. Even though the temperatures have turned, an icy cold DQ treat would really warm my heart right now.
As for Eeyore, I never really associated my Grandpa with Eeyore until I was a young adult. I can’t say when, but at some point when talking to him I realized that although he was not at all gloomy and glum like Eeyore, his voice sounded uncannily like Pooh’s donkey friend. My Grandpa’s southern drawl, deep voice, and measured, careful way of speaking all contributed to his Eeyore-like vocal stylings. He sounded especially Eeyoreish on the phone, and I would giggle after talking to him on the phone. I loved doing imitations of him, “Allriiight, Sweet-heart, I’m so glad you ca-alled. I sure dooo love you.” I loved the sound of his voice and I will miss it so much.
And finally, the Bible being read aloud (can you imagine Eeyore reading the Bible?). When I would spend the night with my grandparents, my Grandpa would often read devotions from scripture to us in the mornings. And sometimes he’d read the story of Christ’s birth aloud to us at Christmas as well. The sounds of his voice reading God’s Word was a beautiful thing. God’s Word was very important to him, as was living his life in service to Christ.
There are a million other things I could say about my Grandpa. But the most important things he passed on to me were the love he gave to me – I always knew my Grandpa loved me, and that’s important to a little girl – and the way he always had his eyes on the Kingdom of God.
Grandpa, I love you, I miss you, and I look forward to seeing you again one day. What a blessing to have you in my life for 33 years. I’m so glad you’re basking in the glory of your Savior!
