in His presence

On Friday, July 29th, 

Barbara's beloved dad entered the presence of His Savior.

May 29, 1917 - July 29, 2011

Barbara with her dad in July of 2009 before leaving for the Philippines

 

An avid golfer,
an optometrist fascinated by the wonders of light, 

house builder,  

missionary,
Bible scholar,
author,
teacher,

father of nine,
grandfather of 22, 

man of prayer,

(he prayed for each of those children and grandchildren

by name every morning and evening!)
passionate about the Word of God, 

living by faith with no fixed income since 1941,

a living testimony to the faithfulness of God.

That's my dad. 

Grandpa Grant tells Amy and Michael a story - 2002

On either hand we behold a birth, of which, as of the moon, we see but half.  To the region where he goes, the man enters newly born.  We forget that it is a birth and call it death.  The body he leaves behind is but the placenta by which he drew his nourishment from his mother Earth.  And as the child bed is watched on earth with anxious expectancy, so the couch of the dying, as we call it, may be surrounded by the birth-watchers of the other world, waiting like anxious servants to open the door to which this world is but the windblown porch.

-George MacDonald

Grandpa Grant hugs Elise goodnight - 2002

I can imagine Mom, who is already with the Lord,
and my sister Shirley who is there as well,

as two of those watchers, expectantly waiting,

to welcome Dad to the fullness of joy found only in His presence!

In Your presence is fullness of joy; 

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 16:11 

Playing a game with Amy and Elise - 2002

"If I discover within myself a desire 

which no experience in this world can satisfy,

the most probable explanation is

that I was made for another world."

-C.S. Lewis

For many years Dad's longing has been for 'the other world;'

to be at home with his Lord.

Dad and Mom walk with our children in Forsythe Park - 2002

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
         And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:6

Dad surrounded by his great-grandchildren - July 2011

Forever with the Lord!

I know you are right where you've longed to be, Dad.

Thank you for your lifetime of faith;
for all of your faithful prayers...
what a rich inheritance is mine because of you.

 Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

when we shall be forever with the Lord,

when disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still my soul: when change and tears are past,

all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

-Katharina von Schlegel

We shall meet at last, dear Dad.

I love you.

we value your prayers for us now - 
for comfort, 
for Barbara's travel back to the U.S. for the funeral, 
and for the rest of the family as they start back to school 
and keep things running while she is away.
thank you friends...