My grandpa

Five years ago, my grandfather, Ernest Neiman, went to be with Jesus. He was the most amazing man that I ever knew, truly. He was one in a million! Not a day passes that I don't miss him and wish that I could sit down with him for one more meal, hug, conversation, or discussion! Thankfully the harder days are farther and fewer, the pain isn't as deep, and really that is cause I know he is in heaven and I will see him again someday, what an amazing hope. I think of the song by Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley, it is a country song, it is called When I get where I'm going... if you know the song, you will know how powerful I am talking when I say it is such a deep song. There is this line, that says, I'll take a walk with my grandad, and he'll match me step for step... when I hear that line, I weep, literally weep, it doesn't matter where I am, what I am doing... Matthew will be like, mom you okay? And what is funny, is that I am okay, I am actually crying because I am so joyous. Because I will see that man again someday when I get to heaven and we will take a walk, a walk without any limps (he had hip replacement surgery, other surgeries cause he was in a terrible car accident when I was a baby, someone hit him head on), or any pains, and by golly he'll even run, we'll run together, and I can hear him saying, "Sharrie, one more lap around the house, pace yourself, you're doing good", cause man, he was quite a coach! My grandpa taught me how to run, he taught me how to run hurdles in track, he taught me to love deeply, he taught me that family matters and it is the most important thing, he also taught me about loyalty and patience and a lot of other things in life. He was so many things to me and all who knew him, I know that his spirit lives on in all of us until we meet again someday!

So, Lord, just help us to live this life right, help us to follow after you, to run our race and seek after the prize (an eternal home with you!) and give us strength along the way!