The Sayer and the Namer

Sad.

My grandpa, one of the very sweetest people in the world is sick. Really sick. Like not-going-to-make-it sick. It's just...sad. It's sad for a lot of reasons.

1. He's such a hard working man, and he's had cancer for the last 4 years, which has effectively taken him out of commission since its onset. I'm sad that this has been such an ongoing source of pain for him.
2. I haven't been there with him through his sickness. I've been in Oklahoma, he's been in Ohio. I'm sad that I haven't done more. I know that thought is kind of irrational, because there's not really anything to "do" to make cancer better, but I'm still sad.
3. He and my Grandma have been married for 54 years. I'm sad for my Grandma. This is what I'm most sad about.

So I'm off to Ohio to be with my family. The good news -the really great news- is that there is still joy in the midst of sadness. We just have to be aware of it. God has created a world of balance, and where there is sadness, there is also joy. So therefore:

1. I'm thankful that I've been blessed with such a great example of a man as my grandpa. I'm thankful for the exceptional family I was born into, and the happiness I've experienced because of them.
2. I'm thankful that I'm able to go spend some time with him in Ohio. I'm blessed to be able to spend time with my family without worrying about life here. (I'll miss Justin, and I'll have school work to do while I'm there, but other than that, I have a very flexible schedule.)
3. I'm thankful for the legacy of love that my Grandparents have. 54 years, 6 kids, and a lot of craziness later, they are still in love. Amen.

It feels better already to have the words typed out. Now I just have to spend the next week or so believing them. If my bloggy friends get a chance to pray for my Dad, Grandma/Grandpa and Aunts & Uncles, etc. it would be much appreciated.
And thanks for the therapy session, Blogger :)

posted by Erin @ 11:25 PM