It's very difficult to find the words that express the true value of a life when you are speaking of a specific life. How can you quantify, extrapolate, even describe the value of one man's life? We compose eulogies and we deliver remembrances, we find any way we can to try and tell whoever will listen what they missed out on in that person.
My grandfather was a good man. In this context, I believe good is actually better than great. Great men carry the connotations of leader of men, conqueror, reformer, genius...All things on their face that are good but never explain the rest of the intangibles that truly defined the person. Is a man of little moral ethic but great standing politically a better man than a good man with no power? Surely not.
My grandfather was a good man. He spent sixty years devoted to his wife. At his passing to glory he was still holding her hand. After sixty years! There is great difficulty in describing him, in capturing his essence in memory because he was such a complete man. He worked hard and saved and provided and wanted very little for himself but rather desired to bless others. He was even tempered and stern, discerning the difference between defensiveness and righteous, helpful admonishment. He was brave of heart and honest in tongue. He said what he meant and meant what he said. He was cheerful and charming, strong and loving. He had an uncanny intuition and an even more impressive understanding of discretion never allowing only his awareness to plunge himself too far forward. He enjoyed life but enjoyed the people in life more. He built his own house, mowed his own pasture, took care of his family, asked for very little and lived quite selflessly.
My grandfather was a good man. He managed to navigate life on the narrow path. Perhaps that is what's meant by the narrow path. Somehow managing the competing emotions in a given situation. We want to be righteous but not without love. We want to be holy but not without grace. We desire justice but not without mercy. We want to be well liked but not consumed by approval. We want to be humble but still understand our true value. We want to be stalwart in the face of fear and gentle, pliable in the face of pain. There is hope in the Lord and there is peace and everyonce in awhile the Lord blesses us with tangible, breathing manifestation of his standards. Every now and again he gives us an example that is actually worthy of our imitation. In my case, I have had an example for 23 years and I am honored beyond words to share his name.
My grandfather was a good man.
