Three words

At the start of youth group last week we got the word that Grandpa Norris had passed away. Our friend, Christian, who was teaching that night had just asked students to describe themselves using only three words when we received the anticipated yet dreaded text. He went peacefully, and his suffering was not long. We are thankful for that; however, he is and will be missed. Take a moment to pray for Grandma Norris. She lost her husband of 62 years. Sixty two years. That's a lifetime folks! She is grieving. The Norris family is grieving BUT not without hope. Grandpa believed in Jesus, his atoning sacrifice and resurrection, and we are confident that he is united with his Lord & Savior now experiencing utter peace, joy and glorious rest.

These are the three words I would use to define Grandpa Norris : Intelligent, generous, faithful. He was all of these and more.

The first time I met Grandpa was at his home in Ventura, California in 2005. I was living in Santa Monica for the summer, and I joined up with Steve's immediate family during part of their visit to the west coast. Over dinner one night someone asked me how I was enjoying California, and I responded by saying that I was enjoying my time, however it was difficult to be 2,000 miles from home. Grandpa quietly left the room as conversation continued. He returned with a map and corrected my rough estimate by proclaiming the exact number of miles between Santa Monica and my hometown. He was not being disrespectful, he just valued precision. That was Grandpa. Apparently, he also liked hats :)

Come heavenly Dove,
My soul remove
From life’s severe distresses,
To that glorious rest above,
To my Lord’s embraces!
Saviour, to thee
I fain would flee,
I would be always praising,
Spend a whole eternity
In worshipping, and gazing!

Charles Wesley, Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures (1762)