Grandfather...A title used since the 1500's to describe the
father of your own father or mother. Their pictures are of those with gray,
white or receding hair; most smiling, but some stoic and distant; many
approachable and encouraging, yet some only a name of a relative seldom
encountered; often a teacher, a friend and your number one fan, but others
conjure up fear or perhaps no memory at all; there are those who relish their
first and every moment, and those so disconnected that not even a photo is part
of their possession; many who are the very fabric of the family, yet others,
though trying, could only wish they were; those given honor, respect and the
head of the table, while some lack honor, are disrespected and even absent from
the table; few are mentors never forgotten,while others are simply...sadly forgotten.
From our multi-connected family I have six such men in my
life...Kenneth, the truck driver, whom I would hop aboard his semi four
different summers as a child; Ivan, who upon his last days would ask for me;
Harold, the namesake of my baby brother; Gordon, one who cherished my maternal
grandmother; Robert, my dad's father and Norman my dad's dad. Grandfather’s
all, yet the relationship as I heard on October 11th, they were not.
Grandpa Albright
Grandpa Williams
I write this blog today because if ever there was a man who
I might choose to emulate as a 'Grandfather', Richard Lloyd Barnes may just be
that person. Inspired by his celebration of life service (and it was), we were blessed
to hear stories from his twelve grandchildren. And what better source might we
have than the children of a man's children to expound upon a grandfather's
character?
Grandpa Carter
Grandpa Barnes was many things, but most of all he was
there. There to sit with them, to fish and eat with them; to camp and hunt and
talk with them; to be at their every party, game or special event; to hold, to
love and laugh with them. Yet above all these, Grandpa Barnes was the image of
Christ to them. The testimony of the resurrected Christ was foremost in all of
their encounters. What greater gift can a grandfather leave upon this earth
than these.
Might we...grandfathers...all choose and have similar
opportunity to be such for our grandchildren.
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