My Grandfather and Me

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my grandfather. He passed away a few years ago, and I miss him so much. He was a quiet man, not the type to make a scene or draw attention to himself. He was a hard worker, was quick to help people in need, and had a strong faith in Jesus. He also found joy in everything, and he dearly loved to laugh.

My brother and I used to try so hard to make him laugh. We would go out of our way to get his attention or act silly in front of him. It didn’t take much effort either. He adored spending time with us and was quick to include us in what he was doing. He would ride us around on his tractor, and if we asked extra nice, he would let us steer it for a bit. When he worked in his barn, we got to hang out in there with him and he would show us his tools. 

My grandparents, Voyt and Helen, with my Dad

It never mattered how busy he was, he always made time for us. Often, he would sit and watch us play for hours. In church, he would sneak us butterscotch candy when no one was looking. When we wanted a slingshot, he carved us one. And when we wanted a treehouse, he built us one. It was free standing and not actually in a tree, but that didn’t matter at all to us. We loved it because he built it. I have so many great memories of him and of the time I got to spend with him.

I still have the slingshot he made me

One of my favorite memories with him happened while we were sitting on his front porch. He always had a pocket knife with him, and he was very fond of using it to whittle. It was only me and him there this particular day. Without missing a beat, he pulled a second knife from his pocket, and he handed it and a small chunk of wood to me. I didn’t know what to carve, and I couldn’t tell what he was trying to carve, but that didn’t seem to matter. We sat there in silence and carved away at the wood. The only sound was the wind rustling in the trees and a hummingbird fluttering away nearby. He always kept a hummingbird feeder hanging from his porch and he loved to sit and watch them.

I was eighteen at the time, and a little over a month away from moving to Kentucky to start college. We had been sitting there on the porch for what felt like hours. I had aimlessly carved the small wooden lump into an even smaller wooden lump. I sat it down on the ground and looked up to find him smiling at me. There was so much love in that smile. He asked me to tell him about the college I was going to go to. I was so excited about college that I didn’t hesitate, despite the fact that I had already told him about it more than once. He smiled the whole time and listened intently. And when I finished, he told me how proud of me he was.

My grandfather was a man of few words, but he could do more with his few words than most men can. That day, he gave me a gift, though I didn’t realize it at the time. He was pouring his strength into me. And he had been doing it my whole life, slowly and deliberately.

Each and every day, he demonstrated what true character was. He taught me how a man should act. He lived it in front of me. His actions and his words poured into me. At a time in my life when so many things were trying to tear me down, my grandfather built me up. He helped mold me into who I am today.

My favorite picture of my grandfather

That day on his front porch, his words were soft and simple, but they carried weight for me. He said “I’m proud of you,” but what my heart heard that day was even more profound. It was an affirmation of the deepest kind because what he really spoke into my life was this: You did it. You made it. You are a man now. 

I miss my grandfather so much, and as proud of me as he was that day, the truth is that I am even more proud of him. He was an amazing example of strength and character to me. He didn't often speak of his faith in God, but he lived it every day. I am so grateful that God placed him in my life, and I am proud to be his grandson. I have tried to live my life so far in a way that would honor him. And I hope that he would still be proud of me. But more than that, I want to pass on the gift he gave me.

My daughter, Jocelyn, and my grandfather reading a book together about one year before he passed away

I have a wonderful daughter who is smart, funny, kind, and a little bit sassy. I want to pour my strength into her the way he poured into me. I want to be an example for her of what real strength and character looks like. I want to always make time for her, and make sure she knows how much I love her. I want to involve her in the things that are important to me, and I want to be a part of the things that are important to her. She is an amazing little girl, and she is going to be an even more amazing woman. I am so grateful that I get to be a part of her life.

Are there people in your life that poured into you? And is there anyone in your life that needs you to to be an example for them?

Jesus, help me to lead and to love my daughter well. I can’t be what she needs without you. Help me to make my life always point her back to you. Help me to be strong when she needs my strength, and tender when she needs my love. Let my life be an example for her the way my grandfather was for me. Thank you, Jesus, for placing both my grandfather and my daughter in my life.

And Jesus, thank you for all the other people in my life who helped make me who I am today. Thank you for putting them around me and for their love towards me. Use me God to pour into others. Let me be an example that brings people back to you. But let my witness be more than just my words. Let my choices and my actions point people to You as well. Help me to live each day in Your strength.