Aunt Lynn (part 1): Birthdays...joy and pain

My Aunt Lynn's birthday is February 4th. That also happens to be the anniversary of my Grandpa's (her father) death. He died three years ago and birthdays, understandably, have been very hard for Aunt Lynn since that time. I know many family members have questioned more than once why he had to die on her birthday. He had been steadily declining for a couple of weeks, we knew he'd not make it through the weekend. Why not the night before or the day after?

That question (and many others) is a question we will not know the answer to in this life. However, I have a different thought on it than most of my family members. I understand the difficulty, but I also see a beauty in it...a perfection...the hand of a loving God that pays attention to every detail and every breath of our lives.

You see, my grandpa was a pretty great man, not perfect by any means, but still a great man. He was admired by many as a hard worker, a good provider, an honest man and a true gentelman. He was known as a faithful husband for over fifty years. He was a pillar of strength through difficult, difficult life circumstances. He was known for his quiet manner, contagious laughter and deadpan humor. He was a servant and one of the most humble men I've ever met.

In the end none of that mattered to him. His greatest joy, greatest accomplishment, most cherished memories were that of being a father (and grandfather and great grandfather). Early in his life, he knew he wanted to be a dad to many children. I remember hearing that while he was still a very young man, he used to say he wanted 12 daughters.

In my opinion, what a more perfect day for his life to end? To come full circle to where the single most wonderful portion of his life began...parenthood...the birthday of his first daughter.

Aunt Lynn, your birthday didn't escape God's notice. I don't believe for an instant Pop-pop died on your birthday to bring you pain. I also don't believe it was coincidental. Pop-pop loved being your dad. As you celebrate each birthday, the joy and the pain of it, I hope that you feel his arms around you, that you hear his laughter in your ear, that you see his smile and that you remember not only the love of your earthly father, but also that of your heavenly one. Pop-pop, loved you. God loves you more.

Happy belated birthday!