Open Letter To My Grandfather In Heaven | The Odyssey Online
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Open Letter To My Grandfather In Heaven

Thank you for my childhood, my faith, and my understanding of love.

Lauren Greenwell
Jan 04, 2016
University of Louisville
13263
Open Letter To My Grandfather In Heaven
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To my loving angel,

Though it is difficult to express in words, the amount I miss you is beyond any fathomable measure. When I look back on my childhood, you truly played an integral part in shaping who I am today. I inherited much of your features, including your nose and your love for Christmas, and my faith is what it is today because of the example you set. I have come to appreciate those things more because they are in your memory. Every prayer, every choice, and all the words spoken out of my mouth are in memory of you.

The sobering fact about death is that once you lose someone, you can never see them again in this lifetime. I realize that I will never be able to physically touch you, hear your distinct voice, or play Monopoly with you on the living room floor, ever again, but I know one thing for sure -- without any sort of doubt in my mind: I will see you again. I will see you again in the perfect, peaceful place that God has prepared for you and I. Heaven cannot be comprehended in our finite human mind, but if anything, it is our true home. Your true home with God.

Granddaddy, thank you for raising and creating such a strong, dependable family so that we can lean on one another in joyful and difficult times. Thank you for raising my father to be the best version of himself who then raised me into being the best version of myself. Thank you for giving me an endless supply of memories from my childhood. Thank you for being a foundation for me to base my faith off of.

The pain that is felt when losing a family member is overbearing. It leaves a sting that is felt for a very long time. It hurts my heart knowing that this past Christmas was the first one without you. Losing you was my first time losing a grandparent, but it has allowed me to appreciate my family more. Time seems to march on and the time we have alive is limited, but in that limited time that I do have, I will spend time with my family and continue to build on my relationships with them. We all have our time on this Earth, and that is why we should spend it loving others. God will hold us all in His arms and keep us strong for you.

I love you, sweet angel,
Your granddaughter

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