Jesus Loves John

Tonight Christine and I are with her family for what likely will the final time to see her Grandpa John.  He is dying and is surrounded by family.  While it is so sad to be here for a time like this, I'm so glad we are.

I can't possibly use this simple post to eulogize a 90 year-old man who has had such an incredible impact on so many people, has been a faithful husband for over 66 years and is such an amazing patriarch because I could not do him justice.  I've only been a part of this family for a few years, but I will say one thing: John welcomed me into his family instantly.  He has loved me like one of his grandkids from the beginning and for that I will always be grateful.

It is difficult to see him struggling, but it is a testament to him to see the way his family loves him.  Please pray for him and the whole family.  Death is never easy.  Death was not the original plan.  Goodbye is painful.

What I really want to share with you is a moment that Christine and I had with him today.

We got the chance to sit and talk with him in his hospital room this afternoon.  While there he joked around and told us stories ranging from fishing tales to the time he first had a Dr. Pepper.  But then his demeanor changed.  He began to cry and we hugged him as he said, "I don't want to go but I want to go."  It was hard to see this.  Then he began to softly sing "Jesus Loves Me."  We sang softly with him and it was so apparent that this song was a prayer to him.

We often make our faith in Jesus seem like a complicated thing, but really it's not that complex.  After 90 years of living John is hanging on to the truth of a children's song.  Jesus love John.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

Jesus loves John and he knows it.  This is a difficult time, but I'm so glad to know that the moment John dies he will be with Jesus in Heaven.

Please pray for us today.