This post was originally written in August 2009. Since then God has healed my heart and made some drastic changes. He wants to heal your heart too.
Interesting question. I believe the answer is yes. I believe I saw it first hand.
My grandfather passed away on August 15. He was 84. Yes, he was old. Yes, he had been sick. Yes, his cancer was back. But I believe he died from a weakened heart. I believe he gave up because he felt lost.
His favorite word was “cotton pickin”. He loved barbecue and fish. He loved to sit on his porch swing and watch the squirrels play in the yard. He loved to ride around town in his electric wheelchair. Yes, my grandpa was an All-American, true blooded redneck. He was proud of it too. He wore overalls and used to smoke like a freight train. He fought in WWII and didn’t talk about it much.
He had many skeletons in his closet, and a lot of them he didn’t talk about. One of those skeletons was alcohol. It controlled him for many years. They say alcoholism can be hereditary. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t watched it be passed on before my very eyes. My aunts, my uncles, my cousins, and my dad; it took over their lives. It took over my grandpa’s too. But I still loved him.
When my dad died in February, so did my grandpa’s heart. His eyes died. His emotions died. His smile died. I could see it on his face the last time I told him goodbye. Six months later he is gone.
Could I have helped mend his broken heart? Was I too scared to acknowledge his sadness because I was to engulfed in mine? I guess we’ll never know.
Thanks for talking about your grandpa. He sounds like an interesting character.
Here’s food for thought. God in His perfect love for your grandpa reached out to Him. He is a good shepherd who never abandons. He is the mighty counselor and the great healer of broken hearts.
God’s ways are higher than our ways – His plans are bigger than we can think or imagine. He uses us to bring about his hope for others. But He is also able to use His other gazillion resources to help.
We are not his only resource. When He wants us to move into a situation to bring His love and hope – He compels us, prompts us to do so. So the question is….”did you feel the nudge to do so?”
I don’t see God as the kind of ruler who says – well, I asked Sundi Jo to go do that for grandpa and she gave me a no – so I will leave him there without hope. When I need something done, I ask someone and if they say no, I usually find someone else who will. I can’t imagine how much more God wanted for your grandpa to have the hope He had to offer and found ways to offer it to him.
So – I guess it comes down to free will. God gives us free will to be involved in His work in people’s lives. And the people who need the help have the freedom to say “yes” to the help.
Well it must have been hard. it’s a touching story and let me tell you a very hard one to share. Hope that trough it all you could stay well.
The best to you. It’s an inspiring story!
I love the depth of your thoughts. My prayers are that you will see the goodness of the Lord as you walk out deep times, that He will show you His treasures to be earthed out of hard places. That He will send you some precious “winks”, or serendipities if you will…that will confirm how precious you are to Him. And, that you will find great delight in Him, as He greatly delights in you!! Blessings dear one!!
so sorry for your loss but thanks for opening up about this pain
Thank K.