Departed from Earth, Home in Glory

Sunday evening was filled with laughter, tears, buttermilk & goodbyes.  The nurses noticed a steady decline in his condition and had warned us that it probably wouldn't be long.  Those of us here in Texas were able to spend that evening talking to him, laughing and crying with each other and cherishing those precious last moments.

At one point, Brandon & Daniel were on each side of his bed, telling stories and laughing loudly.  They decided he'd probably be thrilled at the thought of a taste of buttermilk.  It turned out to be his "last supper" but they did indeed get the carton from the kitchen and give him a few swabs of buttermilk, his favorite drink.  If he had been able to talk he'd have jumped right in on that conversation of uses for twine, flying kites and buttermilk with those rowdy grandsons and he'd have drank almost the whole gallon.

Larry Kelley (son-in-law) got to spend some time with him about an hour before he went Home.  He remembers specifically praying for an angel to come and take Dad home to heaven.  Breanne & Stephanie (Brandon's wife, Papa's favorite nurse) realized it would probably only be hours and decided to stay on either side of his bed.  There were conversations about heaven & how Papa, in his unconditional love never saw the difference between his own kids and his in-laws - they were all his kids and grandkids.  You never wonder if you're loved by Opa & Oma, you just know you are.  We spoke of the legacy he and Oma left and how each of us would do our part to point others to Jesus and carry on what he taught us.  Imagine the preparations in Glory for this most faithful servant!

At around 11:50, his breathing started slowing and then at midnight, Stephanie noticed that it would be mere moments.  Larry & Debbi, Breanne & Stephanie, Anna Mae & Carolyn were by his side as he went home to Jesus - a place he's longed to be for many, many years.  The song that came to mind right away was one he loved... he's now doing this:


"And He walks with me and He talks with me, He tells me I am His own.  And the joy we share while we tarry there, none other has ever known."  


Soon there were 19 of us together (kids & grandkids, Anna Mae & Mary Lou), celebrating his "homecoming."  The grandsons grabbed a gallon of milk and passed cups around and we toasted, "To Opa" and sang the Dutch traditional song "Lang Zal Ze Leven" together in his honor.  We sang hymns and songs he loved - songs about his home in Glory and songs of hope because we do not grieve as those without hope.


“Death has been swallowed up in victory. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:54


Papa believed that with his whole heart and so do we.  We cling to those promises and to the God of all comfort.  The faith that he exhibited and the example that he left behind will be one we carry with us daily that reminds us to live for Jesus, to love others (even the unlovable) and to live life to the full.  Our thought?  He is planting sunflowers, flying kites, wearing yellow, riding his bike, drinking "Mc Donald" coffee, worshipping Jesus, visiting with those who've gone before us and skipping down the streets of gold.  He is in a place he's longed for since I can remember.  He knew full well that this was not his home and he was merely here as a servant of Christ, sent to love those put in his path.  I don't know of anyone who deserves these words more... "Well done, good and faithful servant, Gerrit de Graaf." Amen and Amen.