Goodbye Gramps...

My Gramps walked into the adirondack woods last Wednesday with my Uncle Jim's dog Cherokee.  Cherokee came out alone.  My Gramps who loved the outdoors just a little less than God and his family, died snowshoeing in the woods he loved. We all had said for years that he was going to die that way and yet it was pretty amazing to know we were right.  My Uncle Jim said it was a perfect winter day.  The sun was shining, the snow was gently falling and I have no doubt my Gramps was loving every step he took. 

My Gramps was very, very special to me.  He was a truly unique, one of a kind person.  He was easily the smartest person I have ever known.  He was a pastor who walked away from God and his family.  But the good news is...he came back.  The mercy and forgiveness of our Heavenly Father has never been more evident than in the life of my Gramps. 

I feel so very blessed that my cousin got married 2 weeks before my Gramps died and I was able to spend three days with him.  I was able to add some more precious memories to my already large stash.

One of the last time I saw my Gramps was at my Gram's funeral in April.  He wasn't feeling well and I was very scared that he was going to be gone maybe before we even left.  A few of us were gathered in Gram's big living room and an inpromptu hymn sing broke forth.  My grandfather had a beautiful tenor voice and I loved to hear him sing.  After one hymn, Gramps stood to his feet and stated, "This song is my Testimony" and he started to sing the song below.  What a beautiful testimony of a man who had come full circle and who is now sitting at the right hand of the God he loved so much.

Christ is not a Disappointment

I have found no satisfaction
In the fleeting joys of earth.
I have hewed me broken cisterns 
That have mocked me by their dearth
All the springs my soul had tested
Failed to meet my deepest need
Christ alone has met my longing
He has satisfied indeed.

I have tried the world for pleasure
But it could not satisfy
Though it promised much it failed me
All its wells and springs were dry;
Everything I tried was empty
And I thought that life was vain.
But He came and tuned my heartstrings
And I learned to sing again.

I was tempted not to trust Him
For so many things had failed
But so patiently He waited
and His tenderness prevailed
So I swung my hearts door open
And His promises I tried
Christ is not a disappointment
He has fully satisfied.

Christ is not a disappointment every longing in my breast.  Finds in Him complete fulfillment He has brought me into rest.  I have tested Him and proved Him more than all I dreamed He'd be; Christ is not a disappointment, He is all in all to me.