Child-Like Faith

My dear PawPaw is suffering from colon cancer. He's battled it for about the past year and a half. It's hard. He's in the final stages now and it's been very difficult on my Nana. My sister and her husband came into town Monday to visit him. She couldn't bring herself to do it alone so I went with her, kids and all. As I drove over to their house, I begged God to give me the opportunity to speak Jesus into PawPaw's circumstances. My grandparents are good people. They're not really church-goers but they have the best hearts anyone could have. Well, needless to say, I never got the chance to talk to him about Jesus. Not that day anyways. I couldn't sleep all night and my heart was so heavy. I mean, I'm almost 30 and have known PawPaw my whole life and now I want to talk about God with him? What about all that time before now?

This past week as I've studied Isaiah 6, I've been confronted with God's holiness. I've seen how we're all sinners and we're all needing cleansing. I've also seen that we're all called to a task that God has for us. We're not promised victory or success but we're required to be obedient regardless. Like Isaiah, I had the opportunity to say, "Here am I. Send me!"

When I was younger, I lost both of my maternal grandparents. I was too young to really understand my grandfather was dying of cancer and my grandmother went so suddenly that we were caught off guard by her stroke. But I know without a doubt that both of them loved Jesus and they were welcomed with rejoicing by the angels as they met their Savior face to face. I don't know that about my PawPaw. Not for sure. So Tuesday, I went back over to make sure.

I wish I could tell you that I know for sure now. I don't. I know my PawPaw has done such good things in his lifetime. He is SUCH a good man. But good's not good enough. It's not about what we do here that's important but what Christ did on the cross for us. I shared that with him. He told me that he understood but I never got that clear, churchy answer that he knows Jesus. I don't know if I'll get that clear, churchy answer because my PawPaw's not a clear, churchy kind-of guy.

Monday, after we left my Nana & PawPaw's house, Jonah was sitting in his car seat in the back of the car. This is the conversation that followed:

     "I can't wait to tell Daddy that PawPaw's sick!"
     "What, Buddy?" I asked as I turned down the radio. (That was said with way too much enthusiasm.)
     "I can't wait to tell Daddy that PawPaw's sick!"
     "Jonah, Daddy knows that PawPaw's very, very sick."
     "He does? Aw, man! Well, I just can't wait!"
     "Can't wait for what? Are you happy that PawPaw's sick?"
     "Yeah!"
     "Why, Baby?"
     "Because, Mommy! PawPaw gets to see Jesus! I can't wait to see Jesus!"

The wonders of a child-like faith. The genuine thrill and rejoicing that comes when we know a family member gets to see Jesus face to face.

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10

I'm begging you to please pray for my PawPaw. His time to meet eternity is very close.  Please pray for strength for my Nana, my uncle (who lives with them and will bear the biggest brunt of it all), and my family. But above all else, pray that we will be able to rejoice with a clear conscience knowing that he indeed gets to see Jesus.