A Time to Mourn

There are seasons in our lives. We have stepped into a new season where we are mourning the loss of Colin's grandpa. I think Ecclesiastes says it best:
Ecclesiastes 3
Everything Has Its Time
1 To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
Colin's grandpa passed away yesterday afternoon around 2:00. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon. Much of the family gathered at Grandma Betty and Grandpa George's home. He was still there in his bed, so we were all able to say good-bye.
Ian saw him and told me 'he's not in there anymore. He can't hurt anymore, his feelings aren't in there.' Much can be said about the wisdom of a child.
We all stayed for hours, talking and sharing memories. Crying and laughing as we remembered the life of this dear man.
I think Colin might have been the most broken up over the passing of his grandpa (well, at least visibly). Colin has always been so proud of his grandpa. He loved to tell people about his grandpa. He would ask people if they knew his grandpa and tell them all the wonderful things he had done. I'll share a few of those things with you. I'm sure I'll miss some, I only knew him for 8 1/2 yrs, but I'll give you some highlights.
Colin's Grandpa George was born in 1916. He married Grandma Betty when he was 26 and she was 22. So I believe it was 1942. They were married in Washington, DC. They were married almost 66 yrs. George was in WWII and was an engineer who helped build bridges. When he returned from the war he had a business excavating.
He and Betty raised 7 children. He had a recording "studio" and he recorded a record for the Fleetwoods(among others, that was just his most famous). He could play the piano. Boy, could he play the piano! He loved it. Even when he had slowed down and walking across the room was a labor to him, his hands would dance across the ivory keys.
He was County Commissioner in Thurston County( this was many years before I met him). When I met him he was 83 and he was selling real estate and driving around. He was so proud of his family! He loved all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved it when they would visit.
We will miss Grandpa George. We are thankful for the legacy he has left us. A legacy of music and family and joy. We will weep. We will laugh. We will celebrate his life.