Dolores,
I can’t put enough words together to describe the impact that you had on my life, but I wanted to try with this letter. You were a friend, a guide, and a shoulder to lean on. You took me into your home when my dad went TDY for a year, got me to finally eat vegetables at the age of 3, and you offered timely spiritual advice whenever I needed it.
From an early age, you loved and helped take care of me. We watched TV together, you shared stories with me about life and God, and you convinced me that your farts smelled like roses (they sure didn’t). You covered me in prayer, many times blessing me with anointing oil and bringing me to prayer meetings as a baby. Every time you took me, you’d have the ladies lay their hands on me and pray over my life specifically. The most impactful times of all that I spent with you were my Thursday nights during my freshmen year of college. I would come over to spend the night and discuss the struggles of a young man who didn’t know what to do with his life. You listened well, gave great advice, and I left your house with the peace of Jesus every Friday morning. His love was evident in many things that you did and to everyone you encountered.
Currently, I’m in Sri Lanka 3 months into an incredible 11-month Journey with God. Today was my hardest day yet on that journey. I woke up to the news that you had just passed away. You have been in a fight with cancer and knew your time to go home with the Father was soon. I knew. Everyone knew. But I didn’t know the last time I saw you in person was going to be the last time. I didn’t know the last time I talked on the phone with you and prayed would be the last time. I didn’t know that the note I was writing you was never going to reach you before you left for your real home. I’m hurt that you are gone but so excited to know that you are with Jesus. With that being said, I wanted you to know about the rest of my day.
Around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, me and the rest of my team had dinner at the beach and ran into an older married couple who are going through a very stressful situation. The husband has a brain tumor and lost both of his eyes because of it. He needs to have an operation done to remove the tumor that costs around $20,000 USD. Half of our team was able to pray for this precious couple, share the gospel with them, and bless them with some money for the surgery. After that, we all went to get Gelato at a cool local shop. It’s ran by a couple who we built a good relationship with because we’ve come in every day for the past week. The husband mentioned to me how he appreciated the kindness and the “positive vibes” that we were giving off. I had the opportunity to explain to him that the source of those positive vibes is Jesus and pray for them and their business. My day ended with my entire team worshipping on the beach in the evening. I laid down looking at the stars while we did this. In the middle of worship, fireworks began to be launched at the perfect distance from us and a beautiful shooting star shot across the sky. That moment, I was reminded of the role you played in all of this. All of your prayers, your caring, and your Godly advice through the years have impacted my faith in Jesus and heart to serve him. You were a light that echoed into my life and brought about so much joy. I want you to know that you ran the race well and that your legacy lives on.
I love you, Grandma. I can’t wait to see you at home, but I have more race to finish first. See you soon.
Your oldest grandson,
Tyler
