My father’s father, my grandfather, Don Adams, passed away yesterday. It was a merciful ending to his struggle with Parkinson’s. Our oldest cousin, Matt Adams, recorded his feelings about Grandpa earlier this month in a letter to Grandma, and it is a beautiful testimony to Grandpa’s life. Read on…
Matt Adams, March 4, 2003:
I want to tell you about one of the greatest men I will ever know. You probably won’t find his name in history books or magazines. He didn’t go to college and worked in a factory most of his life. But his life has left an indelible impact on mine–one that I pray will never fade away. This man was my grandpa.
If you saw him today, you wouldn’t see his greatness at first glance. He sits hunched over and walks the same. He carries a towel with him, attached to his belt, not because it’s cool, but because he drools all the time–especially when he laughs or smiles. It’s difficult for him to walk anymore: it takes all of his concentration just to keep his feet underneath him. And if you’d spend much time with him, you’d find conversation to be tough because he mumbles most of the time in a whispered voice that is hard to understand. But this man has impacted me forever. He is my grandpa.
I remember always loving my grandpa. He was so fun and full of life. It didn’t seem like there was anything he couldn’t do or fix. I remember him teaching me how to draw cartoon characters (he made grandma a card by hand each year for their anniversary–she now has over 50). He also taught me how to fish with a cane pole, which is something I still love to do, although I’ve traded in my cane pole for something a bit more high tech. He also instilled in me my love for music. It seemed like all our visits ended up at the piano and we’d sing songs together. He loved to laugh and had such a witty sense of humor. But most of all, I remember his love for Jesus. In our broken world, true legacies are hard to find.
Most of my friends come from broken homes and most of them are still struggling with baggage and grief given to them by their fathers and mothers. Me, I not only have a mother and father who love each other, but a mother and father who love and pursue Jesus. And that love for Jesus was passed down from my grandfather. Each one of their three kids are in committed, Christ centered relationships and our family has been free of divorce going on four generations now. Granted, our family is not perfect, but how many people can say that about their family anymore? Not too many. And it’s my hope and my prayer to pass this legacy down for generations to come. When I have hard times and experience trials, I just remember the faithfulness of that man, my grandpa.
Now my grandpa spends most of his days in a bed in a nursing home. He is beyond the care that my family can offer him. He suffers from Parkinson’s disease. It has taken away so much from him–his ability to speak, walk, stand on his own, live on his own. But I really think that though you may not be able to hear him speak, that he is in an ongoing conversation with Christ. Who knows what wonders he sees?
I remember sitting with him in the hospital after a heart attack. He wasn’t really making much sense when he would talk. Most of the time, he seemed unsure about where he was and why he was there. I brought my guitar with me hoping that music might help to calm and soothe him. I began to sing one of his most favorite songs, Amazing Grace, and as I did, the most beautiful thing happened.
This man that could hardly put a sentence together began to sing along. We sang every verse of that song together–he even joined in with some harmonies! It was one of the most beautiful worship times I’ve ever had. And when it was over, I prayed with him and he fell back to his earlier state, but what a moment it was. I’ll never forget the glow in his eyes as we sang to God together. Tears filled my eyes as we sang the last verse because it struck me how real and true those words were…
“When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise then when we first begun.” And although he will begin to sing truly face to face, I know that song will continue until all generations stand before the Father and sing in one mighty voice, the praise of God. I know God still has a plan for him. He may be on his last lap, but the race is yet unfinished. And I know that God will see it to the finish line with grandpa each step of the way. I think he still prays for me and the other grandchildren, his children, and especially for my grandma. I know he can’t say much, but his life has spoken more than words could ever say, and his life will continue to speak long after he ceases to draw breath.
I don’t know what is yet before me. I don’t know what challenges still lie ahead of me or what things that seem insurmountable will come my way. But I know what’s in my blood. I know who I come from and that gives me hope that I will overcome and remain faithful to Christ each day I draw breath.
My grandpa is one of the greatest men anyone could ever know. I feel so privileged to bear his name. And one day I hope to share stories with my son that he can pass along one day to his son about an amazing man who lived for Christ, unseen in the world’s eyes, but whose life continues to inspire and lead others to live for Christ. And that man is my grandpa and I love him with all my heart.
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