Good morning,
The message this past Sunday and the one that I am preparing for this Sunday got me thinking about my grandparents. I’ve been blessed to have amazing grandparents (and great-grandparents) in my life, and I tend to talk about them a lot.
I’ve never been told a lot about what my Grandpa Phillips (Pop) was like as a young man, but I’ve gotten the impression that he was a very hard-working man who was fiercely proud and independent. He was a dairy farmer, and he and my grandmother eked out a living working the land while raising four boys. Pop was not given to being overly loving, and he was known to lose his temper from time to time. My one uncle once said that whenever a piece of equipment on the farm broke down Pop would talk to God, and my uncle always hoped that God wasn’t listening!
I have no idea what my Pop was like as a husband, but based on what I’ve been told and what I observed as a child he couldn’t have been the easiest guy in the world to get along with. That’s not to say that he didn’t love his family, but he just rarely showed it outwardly. Pop felt his role in the family was to be the provider, and he worked hard fulfilling that role.
By the time I arrived on the scene Pop’s health had already begun a slow decline. I’m the oldest grandchild on that side of the family and yet I don’t have many memories of when my Pop was fully healthy. I grew up watching Grandma cook his meals, make his bed, do his laundry, make sure he took his prescriptions, pay the bills, read him the newspaper, tell him what was happening on “Cheers,” and many other things.
In Pop’s last few years his health began to really fail. His eyesight went, and he was on oxygen constantly. He didn’t talk much, and often when I visited them in my teen years he barely said more than “hello.” Grandma’s life revolved around keeping him comfortable. They rarely left the home. There would be no travel, no social life, no “golden” years of retirement for her.
When couples recite the traditional wedding vows that say “for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part” they hope for better, richer, and health. No one hopes for worse, poorer and sickness. When worse, poorer, or sickness do come, often the first response is to flee. Not my grandmother. She sacrificed everything for her husband, including her own health, and never once did she ever say that it was too hard or say “I can’t do this” to me.
One visit, toward the end of Pop’s life, I casually asked her if she regretted the fact that she wasn’t getting to do all the things that retired folks enjoy doing. Her reply was “Scott, I get to love your grandfather each day, that’s enough for me.” I will always remember that.
Mark 10:9 says that “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” No one has exemplified obedience to that verse more than my Grandma Phillips.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Men’s Breakfast is this Saturday, May 28 at 8 am at Hometown Kitchen.
- I will be giving the invocation at the annual Memorial Day Service in Quarryville. Service begins at 10 am at the lower entrance to the park.
- Junior Youth meet next Sunday, June 4 after the worship service. We will also honor our graduates that morning.
- We will be receiving new members on Sunday, June 11.
- Beginning in June please help yourself to any of the books, videos and materials that are in the library. We plan to donate whatever is left at the end of the month and repurpose that space. The books for young children and some of the teaching materials are going to be kept to use in ministry.
This week we are going to continue our study of what God desires for our homes by looking at the role of a Godly husband. We’ll begin with Colossians 3:19 and also be looking at Ephesians 5 and 1st Peter 3. We’ll also remember those who have served our country in prayer. It’s going to be a great morning…I hope to see you at the Bridge.