Grandad

A great man went home yesterday. My Grandad was a man's man. He grew up slinging around 100lb sacks of grain and 200lb bales of wool on a sheep ranch. He would kill a snake by grabbing its tail and cracking it like a whip. The Australian Army tried to draft him during World War II but didn't due to a heart murmur. So instead, he served God in probably harsher conditions as a missionary to the aboriginal people in Western Australia. He was three days drive into the desert from the nearest civilization, and that was just a ranch. Because of the petrol shortage during the war, he was able to adapt a method of using charcoal gas to power the truck they used for the mission. He continued mission work and started a family at another mission station near Alice Springs. He pastored churches, he started a travel agent business, he started the Australian Christian Businessman's Association, and he coached the national lawn bowling team. He could succeed at anything he put his hand to. He also grew flowers, did amazing woodwork and took incredible photographs.
My Grandad could claim accolades for all his accomplishments. But, what he would want most of all is for God to be glorified for what He did in and through Grandad's life. I didn't get to spend nearly as much time with Grandad as I would have liked since most of the time we lived on different continents. Whenever we talked he would exhort me to succeed with a casual optimism. Even more, he would exhort me to serve God with my life and encourage me to keep seeking Him in prayer. Nothing about Grandad was accompanied with fanfare. He just quietly and humbly served God and cared for his family and his church.
Now, Grandad is with his Lord being crowned with the crown of glory. And, knowing Grandad, the first thing he will do with that crown is cast it down at the foot of the throne of God.