My mind flooded with memories of all the experiences that I had with him. I thought about the simple birthdays he had when my mother would make a simple cake with rock candies sprinkled on top and a snazzy G.I. Joe action figure to top it off. I thought of the vists my family often made on Sunday nights and of course all the family reunions we shared together. Often when we visted grandpa it was never something well planned out, you mostly just dropped by. Sometimes with the whole family other vists were made with just one of my siblings or myself.
(I remember one time inparticular interviewing grandpa on the way life was when he was young. He told me of his mother and the humble circumstances in which they lived as she strived to support her family. He told me how he would often ask his mother ¨What is there to do?¨ He said she often replied by pointing to a small crate that was turned on its side containing the small library in which the family had collected. He said often in his younger age he was more often found in the ball park then he was reading a book, but when he did he said he always enjoyed them.
I think it was clear to his grandchildren that grandpa enjoyed reading later in his life. He had entire walls full of books. I remember specifically on one account when my brothers and sisters and I found one of his health books with muscles on the front that were no less then spectacular. We then continued to joke that the muscles were clearly those of our very own grandpa and we all shared a good laugh.)
One experience that I had with my grandfather which is unforgetable happened the January of my senior year. I was driving on the Interstate when I was cut off and slid into the snowbank. My car was stuck and there was truly no way for me to get out. I called to everyone I could think of, but no one picked up. My last option was a tow truck.
The tow truck came and pulled my car out. There was no damage, but I lacked the funds to pay the fine. Once more I was searching through my mind to find someone that could help me. I felt as though I had exhausted all of my options, no one picked up the phone. Then a thought came into my mind. Call Grandpa. I dialed the number and listened as the phone rang. I was nervous. The last thing I remeber asking my grandparents for was ten years prior to see if I could play with the magnet lady with dangly legs that hung on the front of their fridge. Now I was asking what would end up being more then a $200 fine.
Grandpa picked up the phone and said ¨Hello.¨ I then gave an account of the events and then asked the question ¨Could you pay the fine?¨ He replied...¨Yes.¨
I got to his house and we got everything taken care of. I sat in Grandma and Grandpa´s living room with tears in my eyes. I promised I would pay them back and that they did not have to worry. They gave me hug, holding me close and saying ¨Zachary, you are worth more then any amount of money.¨
In that moment I learned more about not only the love that my grandparents had for me, but the love that my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
has for me. I cried as Grandpa and Grandma held me in their arms.
I will always remember my grandpa as a man kindness in his eyes and charity in his heart. He was no perfect man, as no mortal man could be, but I have no doubt of the undescribable love he had for his children, grandchildren and great grand children.
I now have the oppurtunity to serve my mission with my grandfather. I know that he is here with me and is one more angel that I have to bear me up to preach the gospel to all the world. I am grateful for the noble blood line and the name that I bear.
Although I am saddened at the thought that he is no longer here on this earth, I rejoice in the promise given in 2 Nephi 9:13
O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.
I look forward to the day in which our minds and bodies shall be perfected and we may all live as children of our God together as a family, sealed for time and through out all eternity. As the book by Lance Richardson puts it ¨Death is just a transition through the eternities.¨ Truly death is not the end, rather just another begining.
Grandpa I love you. I know that your still with me. May God be with you till we meet again.
