You're in a Better Place

Dear Pop-pop,

Yesterday was Sunday and I was home. Every time the phone rang, I kept thinking it was you calling to say "hi" (like you do every Sunday) and I was excited to talk to you because I was surprisingly home on a Sunday afternoon. Obviously, it wasn't you.

You would have loved your funeral yesterday. It wasn't about sadness - it was about how you were in a much better place. Right where you wanted to be - with your Father. We sang some of your favorite songs (Bill & Gloria Gaither, of course). Nana did an awesome job speaking and gave an amazing testimony. It all completely pointed to how everyone needs Jesus and how you are not really dead and how she'll see you again someday soon. Dad and Uncle Mike spoke, too. All about what a great father you were and how much love you had for the Lord and for your family. I bawled my freaking eyes out when they talked about hearing you pray for me, Matt, Aimee, Michael, and Nathan through the walls at your house. It really touched them to hear you pray for each of us individually.

Pastor Dave read this from Ravi Zacharias (about how Jesus' followers are to act), "Not flashy...rarely calls attention to itself... serves... often in the background... not self-promoting... powerfully effective in creating a full and lasting result." Daddy's right - that's pretty much you for as long as I can remember. You've made quite an impact on our family. Your faith was unfailing and I, too, enjoyed hearing you pray through the walls.

Here is the part of "Because He Lives" that really comforts me:

And then one day, I'll cross the river

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

I know you're in Heaven with Jesus - I know it without a doubt. And, I know you're more happy there. And, I know that's where you wanted to be and you were just waiting for that day.

I'm glad you got to see the five of us (mostly) grow up. You're going to truly be missed.

Thank you for your genorosity and your love. I'm glad that once I got older I got to come down to Florida by myself to spend some time with you and Nana. Those days meant a lot - even though you were always worried I was bored. I wasn't. It was just nice to see you in person.

I'll miss you at my wedding in September. It's a little hard knowing that neither you nor Grandmom is going to be there to see me marry Shawn. I know you were hoping to be there. I'll be thinking about both of you.

Thank you for being such a great example to me. And, thank you for raising my dad to love the Lord, too.

I love you!

Goodbye, Pop-pop. I'll see you again one day.

In Loving Memory of Charles Wilford Bauer, Sr.

October 15, 1931 - May 12, 2009

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away." ~ Revelations 21:4 ~