Darryn's Blog: Family & Parenting

Tonight my dear Grandpa Lynn died and went to be with Jesus at 9:25 p.m this evening. He was 92 years old.

He loved the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. A pioneer missionary to Africa for 43 years, he finished his race well, without a blemish on his integrity. He was a man of God. He leaves behind my Grandma, Edna who is 94.

This was the last time I saw him, praying the blessing of God over my children.

I will deeply miss him. He was very dear to me. I wrote about him on the occasion of their 67th Wedding Anniversary. What a legacy to have left! This was one of my most favorite recent pictures of him.

I'm flying up to Kelowna, British Columbia to make funeral preparations. He wanted me to conduct his funeral. It will be a celebration of his life.

"... we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raise to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NLT)

Jesus: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." John 11:25 (NKJV)

Last week I took my son deep-sea fishing in Florida, off Marco Island. It’s something I’d been promising for a long time. You see, he’s just turned 14 and will enter Hamilton Southeastern High School this Fall. Nick is a wonderful son, turning into a strapping young man. We have a great relationship already. These next few months of extended time together will be all about building shared memories … the relational glue for the high school years.

I learned this from my dad who took me on the fishing trip of a lifetime when I was 13. Just me and him. Looking back, I see how critical the memories we created on that trip were foundational for our relationship during my teenage years. It was a special time, something I will always look back on with great fondness.

On the flight home, we talked about everything. No iPods, no magazines or books. No PSP or laptop. Just two hours or solid conversation. As we landed, Nick said, “Dad, we should hang out together more often. This is great that we can talk like this.”