I have been thinking a good bit about serving in the church the last few weeks.

It seems action is so important, not just in everything else, but also in your faith.

Sure you can talk about writing, but how much do you write?

Many might want to be professional golfers, but how many are willing to play golf 5 hours a day for ten years?

Or, think of the countless people that have dreams of being a doctor, but are unwilling to study in high school.

For so many, the distance between talking and action is enormous.

That was all I could think of when I read these verses.

There is so much to do, and so few willing to act.

Matthew 9:36-38:

Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

I love you.

–Dad

I love the idea of blessing children.

Yesterday morning I was reading about the blessing that Isaac gave to Jacob.

Genesis 27:28-29:
Therefore may God give you
Of the dew of heaven,
Of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and wine.
Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”

I love you so much.

It’s seems silly, but let me try one.

May the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and your mom and dad keep and hold you.
I pray he gives you the desires of your heart and guides you all your days.
Let your blessings be too many, and your pains too few.
May he shape you day by day, and may you always return to him.

I love you.

–Dad

My grandparents died the weekend before last.

My mom’s parents, that is.

They were married 71 years and they died within three days of each other.

My grandfather passed away late Friday night, and my grandmother passed away early Sunday morning.

He was 93, and she was 88.

They both had such long lives and enjoyed decades together that so many never see.

I am so thankful for that.

Their funeral was this last weekend, and we drove to Del Rio, TX to attend.

We left town mid-morning on Friday and got to Del Rio around 5:30.

On Saturday, we went to a quiet late morning funeral service in a dusty old funeral home. The carpet was maroon colored and shaggy, and my dad did a great job with the eulogy. Everyone ate lunch at my cousin’s house afterward, and then we had a grave-site memorial in Carta Valley.

From Carta Valley, we drove directly home.

Not all of us went though.

H, you got strep-throat two days before we left, so we left you in Seminole with your Grandparents.

We sold your stay as a sleep-over, so you could go swim at the splash-pad – we conveniently left out where we were going while you were there.

I am sorry you didn’t get to come, but I am glad I did not have to take you to a funeral yet.

You know that Sadie died.

But I don’t think at the age of four, you have quite connected all the dots.

I could just see telling you that my grandparents died.

If I did, I think it would take you about 60 seconds to get there.

People die too? Will my grandparents die? Will you die? Will I die?

It was almost a relief that you were sick.

And K, you took the trip like a champ.

Twelve hours in the car, over a thirty-six hour period, and you hardly fussed.

We will talk about death soon enough.

But not yet.

I love you.

–Dad