Wearing of the Green

It is not St. Patrick's Day, but I am wearing green today. My grandfather died last week and today is his memorial service. I can't be there because I already have plane tickets to visit my family next week. My grandfather was very proud of his Irish heritage and so everyone who comes to the memorial service today was asked to wear green. "I can't be there today, Gramps, but I am thinking of you and wearing green."

My grandpa was a good hardworking man. He was married to my grandmother for over 50 years. She died 9 years ago. He lived in the same small town in Ohio most of his life. Everyone in town knew him and loved him. He often worked 2 jobs to support my grandmother and their 2 daughters. He loved to play chess and the bass drum. He desperately wanted to serve his country in WWII, but couldn't because his eyesight was bad in one eye. He felt like he didn't accomplish much in his life, but when he recently typed out the things he had done in his life, it was several pages long. He was afraid to die because he felt he wasn't worthy to go to heaven. He made peace with this shortly before his death. He would always say, God knows the day and hour and minute that each of us will die and there is nothing we can do about it. For him that was Wednesday, September 26th. He suffered and was in pain a lot of the last few years. My aunt and mother became his full time care givers. Although it is sad that he is gone, it is comforting to believe that he is out of pain and in a better place. I truly believe that I will see him again.

"I will miss you, Gramps, and look forward to seeing you on the other side. You were so hard on yourself, but I know that you were a good man who accomplish a lot in your 85 years here on earth."