Recently we said our earthly goodbye to my husband’s grandfather.
Thankfully we were able to be there, along with the entire family, when he passed, holding on to him and speaking words of love and encouragement.
He was 90 years old and lived a wonderful and full life. We were privileged to spend a lot of time with family in the events leading up to the funeral. We went through pictures, shared stories and made funeral arrangements.
What a blessing it was to draw near to family during that time and hold each other close.
A beautiful thing came out of that time spent with family – we all got to know Grandpa more. We each had our own experiences with Grandpa (Dad) but through sharing and grieving together, we gave each other insights into the Grandpa we knew and what he meant to each person.
Our experiences were amplified by story after story that supported his character and legacy.
I have been a part of the Willms family since I was 15 (and started dating the eldest grandson) and I realize now more than ever that my life is blessed because of that man. I reap the abundance of fruit that has come from every seed of character that Grandpa planted in his family. I realized that everything we said about Grandpa could be said about each member of his family – and that is legacy.
They are kind and gentle. They always make time for family. Their hearts and their doors are always open. They work hard, they work smart and they never complain. They are good listeners, they are engaged and present. In all of these traits, Grandpa paved the road. Grandpa made it the norm and the standard.
He was a wonderful husband for 67 years and we were all blessed to know him as long as we did. We will miss him terribly but are so thankful for this family that nurtured. His legacy is a beautiful one and it reminds me that we all get to choose our legacy.
It is our daily choices and actions spread out over a lifetime.
