the absence of my grandpa.

the absence of my grandpa.

That’s something that with each passing day becomes more real. Almost 7 months later, I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that he’s gone.

With each passing event that he’s not at, it sets in just a little bit more. He’s not here to support me or to cheer me on. He’s not here with his advice or his jokes. He’s not here telling me how much Jesus loves me, and he’s not here to take care of my grandma.

There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. Almost every day something happens that I wish I could tell him or reminds me of him. I want to hear more of his stories. I just want to hug him and tell him how much I love him and how much I look up to him. I want to tell him again and again that he is my hero and role model.

Though he’s gone, there are two things I know for sure. He’s up in heaven worshiping with our Heavenly Father. And second, he left a legacy.

If you didn’t know my grandpa, I wish you could have. I am honored and privileged to call Floyd Engel my grandfather. He loved Jesus more than anything in this world, and he wanted people to love Jesus above all else too. He knew who Jesus is. He knew that Jesus is the Son of God. He came to this earth to live a perfect life and that He died for you and for me. And He died to take our place on the cross—to redeem our sins. My grandpa wanted people to know that. He was one of the most God-fearing persons I have ever met. He knew his calling in this life, and knew that this life wasn’t for him, it was for Jesus.

Simply put, my grandpa was the most humble man I have ever met. Seriously. We have a lot to learn from this man. He never once boasted about his accomplishments. And let me tell you, he had many of them! He served in World War II, he volunteered with the fire department for 70 years, he worked for HL&P for 42 years, he overcame a couple different cancers, he had bypass surgery, he had shingles, and on and on and on. But never once did he complain or boast about what he had done. Instead, he gave the glory to Christ!

A few other words that come to my mind when I think of grandpa are obedient, dedicated, servant-hearted, compassionate, genuine, patient, and loving. I could make list after list of who my grandpa was. But those few words sum him up.

Reflecting on the passing of my grandpa has brought a question to mind. Am I living a life that will leave an impactful legacy?

What will people see once I go to be with my Father in Heaven? Will they see a life that reflects my Savior, Jesus Christ or will they see a life that reflects my sinful nature of being selfish, etc?

I learned many things from my grandpa, but on this side of his death, I’ve learned that I want to leave a legacy that reflects Jesus. I don’t know how long I have on this earth. So I need to make each day count. I need to be sold out to Christ each and every day. I need to do what I’ve been called to do—love and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

So, I have a question for you, what legacy will you leave behind?