A Letter to my American Hero who went home to Jesus

Independence Day is upon us and for me, it brings a flood of memories, love and grief as I think about my favorite American Soldier.

Grief is a funny thing… the way it comes in waves, the way it lingers, the way it sneaks up on you when you least expect it. It’s been said that that “Grief is the price of love.” I found out that statement is true.

I lost my beloved “Grandpa” Parker (GP) last October. (He was not a blood relative, but he became my Grandpa. The letter below describes this in more detail.) He was an American Solider through and through, a Retired Chaplain General who served in Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. He lived 90 years on this earth. I’m eternally grateful for every moment that we had together.

The letter below is something that I’ve never shared before. I wrote it the night that GP died. While I was writing the letter over the span of a couple of hours, the ink in my pen ran out. I knew at that moment that GP had gone home to heaven. I picked up a different pen and finished writing the letter in a different colored ink. It’s funny how God reveals things to us sometimes. The letter I wrote is a celebration of an American Hero who went home to Jesus. It’s a tribute to a life well lived.

10/21/18
“My Dear GP,
God has been so good and gracious, as He knew what these last few days would hold. God is good, all the time.
My life has been blessed and enriched by knowing you and loving you for the past 14 1/2 years. I’m so grateful for that. We were introduced when I graduated high school and you wrote to me. I was filled with curiosity and wonder, as I learned the story of how you sponsored my Grandma and helped her immigrate from Germany to America, while you were in the Army.
When your family made that decision, it would forever change the course of my family’s future.
You performed the marriage ceremony for my grandparents and when I got married many years later, you were there. That was the first time we’d met in person and you were every bit as wonderful and ornery as I thought you would be. You read the Love chapter out of 1 Corinthians. I remember it like yesterday and it’s been 12 years ago.
You prayed blessings over our marriage throughout all the years and always asked how Chad was doing. I know he had your approval partly because you had matching hairstyles that you were both quite proud of! Mostly, you approved of Chad because he loved the Lord and he loved me. And that was enough.
You rejoiced with us over the birth of our three children and you let me know that three was a great number. Your three wonderful children have become my bonus family, along with their spouses. There were more people to love and to be loved by.
Your church family at North Fork Baptist Church was so important to you. We loved to visit your beautiful church in Virginia and your church family there were even more people to love and be loved by.
Our visits to Virginia were enriched by your stories and your rich love of history, as well as the experience of spending time with those you loved and who loved you.
Visiting Arlington with you is one of my most humbling memories. Respect, honor and a deep love for our country, you carried in your heart. I’ll never forget the way you polished your shoes until they shined and the way you walked proud and tall, even at 90 years old.
I think my very favorite memories of visiting you in Virginia were the time we went Sunday driving after church once, just enjoying the day and each other’s company, stopping along the way whenever we noticed a beautiful place. And the times we went walking as you held my hand in one of yours and my little sister’s hand in your other.
None of us could ever forget when you wore bib overalls to Dori’s Missouri country wedding! You always knew how to keep things lighthearted and fun!
You taught me many important life lessons as you let God’s wisdom speak through you. I cherish the hours we spent on phone calls and in letters, listening to each other.
You taught me to have and to use the fine things in life, every day. Living is a special occasion!
You taught me to dress up and show up, over and over again, and always with a smile on your face.
You taught me that birthdays and Christmas are important and always to be celebrated.
You taught me to always treat each of my three children fairly and to show them our beautiful world- as much as I possibly could. You shared my sense of wonder and adventure and curiosity. I will continue to travel the world and I will think of you when I do.
You shared with me 3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.”
You have prayed for us in the hard times and rejoiced with us in the good.
Your life and legacy are love- the love of Jesus. You loved your wife and children and family and church and others with wide open arms. I can think of no greater way for a man to live.
My beloved GP, thank you for loving like Jesus. Thank you for being His hands and feet. Thank you for loving my Grandparents, my mom, my sister and me and all of our family. We are so grateful for your love and your service.
God is so good and was so kind and gracious to allow me to tell you good-bye. Last Thursday evening you called, which was somewhat rare, as I usually called you. You shared with me updates of the kids and the church and you asked all about my family and me.
I’ll never forget that you said I reminded you of Kate Middleton, beautiful and classy, but willing to cheerfully and joyfully tackle everyday tasks- like going to the grocery store with children in tow. You said Chad and I were doing a fine job of raising our family and you told me to keep doing the excellent work. Those were some of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received.
I was able to share with you our plans to visit Virginia in the Spring, and that our little dog, Bear had turned 13, and that we were finally in the beginning stages of building our dream home- a part of our journey that you had been following for many years.
I’ll never forget the joy in your voice as you exclaimed “You’re full of happy news tonight!”
Then we said “I love you” and “Good-byes.” I’m grateful to God for that phone call. He is so gracious and good.
The next evening is when you went to the hospital and the next evening, God spoke to me through an old Little House on the Prairie episode. A lady, who knew she was dying, told her children “you’re not crying for me- you’re crying for yourselves. I’m headed to eternity with the Lord.”
This evening I got the news that you are slipping into Glory Land and selfishly the tears pour down my face-when rejoicing is much more appropriate.
My dear GP- you have lived and loved so well. Tonight is a reminder to hug my husband and children just a little bit longer, for time slips by so fast.
In the end, our personal relationship with Jesus Christ is what matters most. May we all live each day choosing happiness and joy- and sharing the love of Jesus with everyone we meet. Amen. “