1 How joyful are those who fear the LORD—all who follow his ways!
2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
4 That is the LORD’s blessing for those who fear him.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:1-7
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.
2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.
7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
Many of you reading this likely read my last post called Until we meet again... If you haven't stop reading this one and go read it first then come back.
It is hard for me to believe I am back here. Back writing about a loved one who was swept away from the hospital bed to go home with Jesus. I know I should be feeling pain, emptiness, sadness, and maybe even a little angry. That is not the case for me though. Yes, there is some sadness because of the new reality which I find myself in with the loss of two special people that I called Grandpa and Grandma Pluister. Grandpa passed away two weeks ago and now Grandma just yesterday.
If I am honest though there is peace even happiness in this time of loss. How can I even mention the word happy you ask? How do you find Joy through the loss of loved ones? My answer is Jesus. My answer is the hope of a new life where all things are pure, holy, and free from the tyranny of the Devil. The hope of Eternal life through Jesus in Heaven where we will meet again. It's the thought of after 66 years of marriage and a brief separation from each other that Grandpa and Grandma have reunited in an unimaginable majestic place where all things are made new. It's where the Angels of the Lord sing and where all of Gods Glory surrounds those he has called home. They are home together free from pain and suffering holding each other once again only this time in the presence of the Lord. I know this is what both of them would want for us now and in the future. To be happy that they are home and happier now more than ever before!
I will always remember Grandma for who she was while she was here. She truly was the fruitful grapevine flourishing within their home from Psalm 128 verse 3. Shes the one who made a house become a home. Not a home for just her family but for anyone who walked through the door. When you went to her house anything they had was yours. They never held back and made sure you left happier than when you came. Grandma's love language was food! And let me just tell you she mastered it! Grandma made enough food to feed an army or at least that's what it felt like at every holiday, birthday, special occasion, or even just because you were there. She always felt like there was never enough food, but was also never happy with leftovers. She didn't care that you had seven helpings of fruit salad if there was still some in the bowl you better have another until it was gone! That was also before the desert came out too and you better have room for that as well. If you left Grandma's house hungry well then that was either your own fault or you were really sick I am not sure which.
I mentioned birthdays earlier. Grandma had a tradition for many of us before the family got so big she couldn't possibly continue it. The tradition was when it was your birthday you got to go there and have lunch or dinner and you got to pick the menu. That's right whatever your favorite meal was that's exactly what she would cook. It didn't matter if others weren't fond of your choice either. If you wanted it you got it; it's just the way it was. She would even go as far as making special bowls or plates for those who might not have liked all the ingredients. I won't mention any names though because you know who you are ;) Grandma also made sure to keep enough snacks, cookies, and candy in the cupboards too. If you tried to turn something down she may go as far as making a take home bag for you because well there was no telling Grandma no. I am not sure anyone figured this out faster than our little Owen. That boy had her so wrapped around her finger that even at the age of two she would make Grandpa take her on special trips to the store to make sure she had his favorite cookies in the jar. Every time we went to Great Grandmas house that is the first thing he asked for upon walking in the door and she was happy to oblige to his request. I am thankful our kids got to meet such wonderful people for as long as they did and they got to call them Great Grandma and Great Papa! I am not sure they fully understand what it means that they are gone, but I can assure you they will be missed!
Grandma also had a playful but competitive side. Some of you may know this but many of you may not. Grandma loved to play cards. You could make her entire week if you asked to play even just one game of cards with her. Typically the game was golf (hopefully you know what that is but if you don't you can ask me some other time) and Grandma loved it! Though I am not sure there was a bigger rivalry than with her and my dad. You see dad loves to have fun and one of those ways was to get Grandma going while playing cards; they sure did like to pest each other! He and her had a special relationship whether it was playing cards or taking rides on the pontoon boat. Memories our family won't soon forget to say the least!
Grandma, you will be missed by all of us who remain here. I am thankful for your love and amazing example of how to love others unconditionally. Thank you for the years of warm meals, hugs, kisses, and nurturing care. Its my hope and prayer that we will pick the torch up where you and Grandpa left off. May we continue to show our family and friends how to love God and each other unconditionally. God knows that each of us needs to shine our light in this fallen and broken world just as you and Grandpa did while you were here. I love you and I know you're happy to be back with Grandpa in Heaven. Save a spot for us at the banquet table of the Lord!
Until we meet again.......
- Nick, Nichole, Peyton, Owen, and Baylee too!
