Grampa, Was That You?

Hebrews 12:1 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses . . ."

Can our loved ones in Heaven can see us? And if so, can they intercede for us in special times of need? My grampa was born in 1899. He was special to me! Roll the time machine back to 1938, when my Mom was six years old. She came home from school one day only to find that something VERY VERY BAD had happened. Her Daddy, whom she loved dearly, was on the living room couch crying and sobbing inconsolably. He drove a delivery truck. That afternoon a little girl ran out from between two parked cars, and he was unable to stop in time. How would you feel to look down on a lifeless little body on the road? What would you say to her parents? What would you say to yourself? My Grampa quit his job and never drove a truck again.

Years later as a teen, my first thought when I got my license was, "God, please don't EVER EVER allow me to hit a child. I just couldn't take it!!!!! A few months later while I was driving, for no apparent reason I lifted my left foot off the floor and allowed it to hover over the brake. Suddenly a child ran out into the road. I stopped instantly. It wasn't even close. No screeching brakes. No skid marks... But I don't believe in coincidences... Grampa, was that you?

My maternal grandmother played piano for the Baptist church in New Bern, NC. And the Women's Circle meet in the parlor of her home. But my mother says that everything she learned about God, she learned from her father - my Grampa. Grampa was half-Cherokee. Consequently, he was not welcome in an "all white" Southern Baptist church during the Depression era. But he knew the Lord and he loved people. He was soft spoken and a good listener. My grandmother faithfully attended church. And I am sure that she got her ticket to Heaven. But my grandfather lived the life. What will your children and grandchildren say about you after you're gone?