Two Grandparents. Five Days.

Today I woke up to the reality that I no longer have any living grandparents. Although this may be common to many, it is a new lens that I'm looking through this morning. On Friday evening, September 17, I learned that my grandfather, Leon Everett Dunsmore, had slipped into eternity. A World War II hero, a recipient of the Purple Heart and a man of God, "Papaw" (as we knew him) will be missed and his life celebrated. 


Before we even began our journey home from that funeral, my wife and I received a call that my grandmother (opposite side of the family) and only living grandparent, had unexpectedly passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, September 22. After I hung up with my sister, I held the phone...staring at the wall in disbelief while my wife wept in grief. Like something out of a depressing movie or poorly written sitcom, I was desperately trying to take in the enormity of the moment. Now, Janie Sue Crawford, had suddenly joined the ranks of missed loved ones.


In just 16 short years (or so it seems brief), my siblings and I have watched all four of our grandparents and one parent leave their earthly confines. Many days it feels surreal and dream-like. Other days...the pain is enough to leave me breathless. Either way, I'm reminded about how momentary our time on earth truly is. On the way to my grandfather's burial in the foothills of the Smokies, I remember my sister saying something to the effect of:


"Our time here is so brief and the gospel is so urgent...will we really be remembered as married, single, parent or grandparent? Or will the utmost importance be the way in which we swiftly and obediently took the gospel to all people? Our life is too short...we have to finish this thing [Great Commission]."


Of all the memories I have stored up from this past week's events, my sister's words still ring in my heart. She's right. We do spend such an unhealthy amount of time attaching labels and assembling legacies that we forget what we are here for: to glorify the One who made us and set us free. Let's back up: is it good to marry, have children, build families, do work and contribute to society? Absolutely! We can and should glorify God in ALL that we do. Yet, our primary task is to communicate the incredible and incomparable good news that God is most glorified when hearts are redeemed through Christ!


"And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?" Romans 10:14


Life is too short. Our primary task is to point all hearts to the reality that we are designed to give Him worship alone. Guess what "Mamaw" and "Papaw" are doing right now? Worshiping. I bet that 8 & 1/2 decades felt like a vapor to my grandparents who quickly entered the heavens and found out that the worship of the King is all that matters...forever. Therefore, worshiping should be all that matters whether we live to 35 or 85. My prayer is that I worship through my obedience. Obedience to the command that ALL should know His redemption. Every tribe, every tongue, every nation.