Posted on April 8, 2010 - by kelly
Things I Love About My Grandpa
Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
I had the fortune of growing up in an awesome family steaped in tradition and old-fashion family values. This wasn’t always something that I appreciated, but as time passes, I have grown to honor it a great deal. I’m certain these roots lie further back in time, but in my memory, they start with my Grandpa.
Last week I was able to celebrate the life of Norris Acy Wing, aka Grandpa. This man was the kindest person I ever had the honor of knowing, and the legacy he leaves behind is entwined in all the lives that he touched throughout the years. When reflecting on a snapshot of his 88 years of life it could have been one of great sorrow and loss, but Grandpa triumphed at every challenge, never choosing to look at the negatives, only the possibilities of what lie ahead.
These are a few of the things that come to mind when I think of my Grandpa:
- Grandpa had the best laugh of anyone I ever knew. It started as this deep chuckle, with the sides of his mouth turned up just so, and would grow into a deep belly laugh, rich with emotion.
- Grandpa had the softest skin. I loved to hold his hand or kiss his cheek. His skin was like velvet. (My mom has the same feel. One of my favorite childhood memories was sitting in church tracing my fingers over the vein lines on her hands feeling her silk skin beneath my little fingers.)
- If you ever met my Grandpa you would never forget his voice. Rich, deep, warm, perfect. If heaven has a choir, he’s singing lead. One of my favorite memories is him singing at his 80 th birthday an old hymn about Shadrack, Meshack, and Abendigo. Better than any modern day tune ever. Shannon and I still stop and dance anytime we hear “It Had To Be You,” which Grandpa sang to us for our first wedding dance the day we got married.
- Grandpa was so gentle. Wether it was holding a great grand baby or swinging a golf club, everything he did was gentle. He had a grace about him that was indescribable. Even as he got older and wasn’t as sturdy, he walked with this peaceful grace.
- Grandpa was never mean. I can honestly say I never heard him say a negative thing about anyone, ever. I know of no one else in the world that I could say this about. He always looked at the positives in people.
- The list is endless, but my favorite thing about my Grandpa was that he loved Jesus. He taught his children to love him, his grandchildren to love him, and anyone he came in contact with knew he loved Jesus. The legacy he leaves behind has not only impacted the lives of those here on earth, but it will have everlasting impact on how those people spend eternity.
I am a lucky girl to have loved such a great man. Selfishly I was not ready to say good bye, but I am thankful for the heritage and the memories I will always have of this incredible gift I called Grandpa.
