Every year on the 10th I would try to wake up early and call the local radio station and be the first of us 9 grandkids to wish him a happy birthday. If I could, I'd call down to their house(¼ mile down our County Road) and see if he was up making my birthday breakfast yet, our JOKE. I'd then ride my bike down there, or on cold days like today get Mom to take me and we'd eat breakfast together. Mamaw would get up and read scripture to us to start our day, we'd pray. I would usually sing happy birthday to him, but not in a good voice, or to sound good. It was more of a funny thing he always did for us, calling us to sing happy birthday. My Papaw didn't have a perfectly pitched voice, however he made a joyful noise unto the Lord. It usually started out something like this: "test, test..me, me, me, me, cough, clear throat," and then you knew what words would come out, but never exactly the tone/or beat ! It was just another "thing" he did in his funny way, just because. I loved his sense of humor. So I'd try to sing silly to him in hopes it was funnier than the way he would sing to me the next day.
He always gave us(the grandkids) $20 on our birthday's. We never knew how we were going to receive the money because he spent days/months preparing how to wrap it. His gift was always the last to be opened, and the one we all looked forward to the most. It usually involved a ton of duct tape and numerous boxes, upon boxes, with more duct tape. One year it was wrapped in a HUGE box, and I finally got down to the last one and it was a pen. I went to click the pen and it didn't work, the $20 was rolled up inside it. It took me about an hour to get to that pen! On my 16th I believe, he put $20 inside a baggy, wrapped inside oil...so I could have some to change my oil now that I owned a car. He was always so creative in doing this. You never knew if it was going to be quarters, $1 bills, $2's, $5's etc, or how many boxes you'd have to go through(without a knife or scissors). It was HIS thing, and it was fun, always!
 |
| The cake says Jennifer 2, Papaw ? |
The last birthday we celebrated together was my 30th. Papaw went to be with Jesus on April 17th, 2011. That day I saw God/the Holy Spirit, I'm not sure, but it was a very bright light hovering over his head and when he took his last breath it was gone. I was sad, but amazed all at the same time because I knew that he wasn't hurting anymore and he was with Jesus in all his Glory. I remember a peace came over me, a sense of feeling overjoyed. I didn't understand it at the time and still to this day not completely. But it was comforting. It was beautiful.
I recall one of the last conversations I had with my Papaw while he was in the hospital, just a few days before he died. He told me that he wished he hadn't wasted so much time, that he'd done more for God, for his Kingdom before his time was up, there are so many who are lost, he said. I said Papaw, please don't talk like that. He grabbed my arm looked me square in the eye and said well it's the truth, Jennifer don't waste your life, live it for Jesus no matter the cost. I told him okay I will.
I will never forget that conversation.
You see usually it was my Mamaw who "preached" to us. But this time it was him. I had already felt God asking me to make some big changes in my life, but was hesitant because it did not make sense at the time. Things soon changed.....we'll talk about all that another day.
So today, I am sad a little bit that I don't get to do all the traditions with him here on his birthday, however I know he is having such a better time in Heaven. I bet he'd say it was better than any party we tried to have down here on earth for sure! So instead of being sad I rejoice! I choose JOY! I am thankful for the time I got to spend with him, for all the memories, and the important things I am passing on to my family and those around me. I get to talk about Heaven with my daughter, she knows that Mommy's Papaw is in Heaven with Jesus.
Happy Birthday in Heaven Papaw - I'll see you soon, but not until my work on earth is done......and by the way: I'm learning how to put Jesus first, more everyday, still figuring it out, BUT... I don't think I'm wasting my life....JESUS really is EVERYTHING.
