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This morning, as I talked my friend Jon on the phone I saw that my Dad was trying to get through. I told Jon good-bye and then pressed talk. Dad did not sound excited.

 

"I just got a call from Dave,"

 

I knew that he was calling about Grandpa. Grandpa Lueders had been battling cancer for almost a year now, but recently caught Pneumonia and had been struggling to recover.

 

"Grandpa took a turn for the worst last night."

 

The last I had seen Grandpa was over a week before at Methodist hospital. Uncle Dave had been faithfully spending much of his time by Grandpa's side. Talking, watching TV, or making arrangements with the doctors. I arranged with Dave to come see Grandpa on my lunch break that Thursday.

When I arrived, grandpa was lying in a hospital bed, attached to oxygen...but he still had a firm hand-shake. He wasn't too weak to talk, but I think he was a little embarrassed to be in such a dependent condition. Bedridden, and wearing a floral smock is just no way for a man to go.

 

 

"He's gotten very weak, Ben, and now it looks like it's only a matter of time."

 

So far dad had tried as hard as he could to not get emotional and to only talk facts. So I asked him after a long pause,

 

"How are you doing, dad?"

 

He immediately started crying. I have a hard time keeping it in when a man cries...especially if that man is my dad. Through his tears he managed to say,

 

"It's not every day that you lose your dad."

 

Today as Abe and I walked into room 304 at Ambassador, we saw Uncle Dave and Aunt Susan at the foot of a small bed and Uncle Larry, Grandpa's youngest of six sons, standing by his side. Grandpa was completely tucked in by a blanket. It was hard to believe that this weak, pale, old man was only a year ago the jolly, plump mischievous Grandpa Lueders that everyone knew and loved. Of course, we all still knew and loved him...even though he had since lost the strength to be jolly.

 

Grandma and Grandpa's pastor, Leroy Gerner was there to keep everyone's spirit's up. Upon request, Rev. Gerner pulled out some wine and wafers and administered communion to those of us who were there. It was a powerful moment as we all held hands, and confessed our sins together and acknowledged our total reliance on Christ's blood for our salvation. Grandma had come in and sat next to Grandpa holding his hand with one of hers, I held her other hand. There wasn't a dry eye in the room as we all recited the Lord's prayer together. After communion, Pastor Gerner looked up at everyone and said,

 

"The prophet Jeremiah says:

 

"I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

 

By all accounts this looked like harm. By any educated judgement, Grandpa Lueders had been given some bad plans. But may God be right, and every man a liar! There was no harm in these plans...only hope. The hope of a glorious, prosperous future. We were all reminded of the ugliness and the harmfulness of death, in that room...but we were also reminded of how the sting of that death was defeated 2000 years ago. During communion Grandpa rightly confessed his sins, the very sins that Jesus died to save him from. Grandpa can rest confidently, knowing that Jesus has already passed through death's dark, harmful valley...and come out on the other side.

 

And soon, like that thief by Jesus' side, Grandpa will be with him in Paradise. As will all of us who confess his name.

 

"O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?"

About The Author...

Ben Lueders is from Hawaii but he lives in Nebraska now. He's married to a cute girl named Megan. He does music, graphic design, Twitter and stuff.

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