Yesterday afternoon, a very special, very loved, very wonderful man passed away. A's grandpa. Boppa. He was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer barely a month ago. He was told he had about six months to a year to live. But that was not meant to be. The time we had left with him went by so very quickly, but it was so precious. Boppa wasn't my grandpa by birth, but I felt like I adopted him when I married my husband. He was so full of kindness and love.
One of Boppa's favorite things to do was read with my kids. He used to pretend that he didn't know the letters and make the kids tell him what they were. He loved reading Shel Silverstein with them. He gave S a beautiful pop-up edition of Alice in Wonderland.
In recent weeks, we've spent many wonderful evenings at Boppa and Nana's house, laughing together as a family, bearing our testimonies of the gospel, and making precious memories that will bear us up in the days and weeks ahead. Probably the most precious memories will be of my kids reading to him. Almost every time we visited him in those last weeks, both H and S read to Boppa. We told them over and over again how much Boppa loved it—and how much he loved them. And they gladly read to him, over and over again. Books they had loved together and new books that my kids wanted to share with him.
The sweetest thing to me as a mother was to watch H with Boppa. H is a shy person by nature. There are times when he is painfully shy. But something really special happened to H over the past month. He began asking to read to Boppa, and later talking about how much he enjoyed it. I'm not sure what changed in H's little heart. I like to think that the Spirit whispered to him that Boppa wouldn't be around for much longer. And it even extended to other relatives. On Thanksgiving day, he read to both my grandmas, and an aunt and uncle. Volunteering to do so.
Only a few days before Boppa died, we had made plans to go and visit, but Nana said he wasn't doing well and that we could come the next night. A's sister called to tell me that all Boppa had wanted that night was for H to read to him. So, the kids picked out special books to read to Boppa and we all went down together the next night and had a really wonderful time.
I'm so very thankful that we all have these sweet memories. I'm grateful for the growth my kids have experienced over the past few months, and the way A's family has surrounded each other and cared for one another. In the face of so much sadness and grief, there is still much to celebrate.
Rest in peace, Boppa.
7 comments:
Beautiful post sweetie. I'm so glad you and your family had so many sweet times with Boppa that you can cherish now that he's gone. You all continue in our prayers.
i am sorry for your loss, tennille. what great memories you all have to relive. love you.
We love you guys. I'm glad you got that time to spend with Boppa before he passed. We pray your in-laws can get there quickly!!
That is so sweet. I keep bracing myself for when my kids will have to learn about death. I'm glad you'll have such nice memories.
Such a beautiful post Tennille. My condolences to you, A and your whole family. I'm impressed by what you taught your children and how you spent the time he had left. Very beautiful.
That was wonderful. He sounded like a great man who will be missed.
See, now, this is the problem with reading blogs at the office... crying on the clock is decidedly counterproductive! Seriously, though, what a touching post. It's amazing what life -- and its ending -- teaches us about the power of love and tenderness, and how that power transcends and sustains. Thank you for sharing!
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