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Friday, September 14, 2012

Stories of Faith 2---My Grandfather Rollie

One person I look forward to being reunited with in Heaven is my Grandfather Rollie.  He was my Dad's Dad and the husband to one of my favorite family members ever---my Grandmother Hazel.  Grandpa Rollie got saved and baptized in a Baptist church with my Grandma Hazel in 1939.  Grandpa Rollie had Parkinson's Disease.  He had snow white hair and was always either in his bed or in his wheel chair. I was close to him in my own way---even though I couldn't understand a single word he said due to the Parkinson's disease.  He enjoyed my Grandma's cooking! He especially loved her corn beef hash!  I remember helping to feed him once! 
Family members including my Grandmother Hazel told me that Grandpa Rollie really loved me!  He was always kind to me, Crystal, and my Mom.  There were times back when i was a ch ild when my Mom needed to borrow their car to get ust o school, and when Grandma Hazel would ask Grandpa Rollie permission he would always say "Yes."  One of funniest things my Grandpa let me do to him was putting Purple moose in his hair!  He was sitting out on the front porch by Grandma!  I think I was 8 or 9 when I did that!  It looked hilarious! 

He also enjoyed riding his wheelchair up and down the front porch! I remember watching him push himself up and down the porch like he was in a race!

There is one story that my family has told me about my Grandfather that has really touched me---that I will treasure the most!  When I was having my grand mal seizure at thea ge of 7, Parkinson's Disease was just getting to my Grandfather.  My Grandfather would have a hard time walking.  So while I was laid out on the couch of Grandma and Grandpa's couch waiting for Aunt Sharon and Uncle Allen to take me to the hospital, Grandpa Rollie got on his hands and knees and crawled to where I was just to hold my hand!  Talk about love!!!!!  This story never ceases to touch me in some way!  Can you imagine loving someone so much that if you couldn't walk, you would crawl on your hands and knees to just be by them and hold their hand?  I can't begin to fathom what it is like to have Parkinson's Disease.  It's one thing to see someone have it but another to actually go through it!  I am so thankful that I had a Grandfather who loved me so much that he would do that for me!  These are the types of things taht testifies to someone being saved and having the love of Christ in them!

Even though I could never understand anything that my Grandpa "said", but looking back I can understand his love for me crystal clear!


My Grandfather Rollie died in August of 1987 when I was 10 years old from Parkinson's Disease!  Talk about a blow to me at that time to have him die. But I do know where he is at---he is in Heaven waiting for me!  I look forward to the day when the rapture happens or death, which ever comes first, where we can be reunited, and when I can have my very first conversation with him--where I will actually get to understand what he is saying! 

I can only hope that I can be the type of Dad and Grandpa (if the Lord tarries) that has such a deep love for his children and grandchildren as my Grandpa Rollie did!  I can only hope and pray!


Do you have a parent, a grand parent, a family member or even a friend that has such a deep love that he would crawl on his hand and knees just to hold your hand?

4 comments:

  1. Great story! Did your grandpa have Parkinson's ever since you could remember? Or did he slowly develop it? It's such a difficult illness! I visited a hospice and met a man who had it and when I first met him, he was able to talk, his voice just sounded shaky and he was moving all the time. I visited him 2 months later, and he was a completely different person! He could no longer speak clearly and could no longer feed himself. What a difference a short amount of time makes!

    It was really touching to read about the moments you had with him, even if it was for a short time! He might not be able to literally say "I love you" But his actions speak loud! I think that he gave you extra strength when he held your hand!

    I know that I have a lot of people in my life that would crawl on their hands and knees to hold my hand! First of all, my dad, no doubt about that! lol, my siblings, and my best friend! I'm blessed to have loving people in my life! I hope to be as kind and loving as they have been to me!

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    1. Yes! My Grandfather Rollie had Parkinson's disease as long as I can remember! But I am sure he also slowly developed it as well! By the time I can remember, he was all ready in a wheel chair and his speech was already messed up to the point where I couldn't understand him! But Grandma Hazel could understand him!

      Yes, I have loving people in my life as well! My wife and my sons! And I am so thankful for both your and Jon's friendship as well!

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  2. Great memories with a great man :) I'm happy to know that you have quite a history of Christians in your family, that's comforting to know! And the fact that he crawled just to hold your hand shows true love! Sometimes when you go through something difficult, like a phyiscal disease, you do what you can to show others how much you love them because there is no other way, and life isn't promising, I think that's amazing that he made the strength for himself to do that for you! :) I learned that sometimes actions really do speak louder than words. As a kid, when I was upset about something, people would walk up to me and say all kinds of nice things but sometimes it would be hard to handle when you've just been deeply hurt. The best kind of comfort is something simple like a hug or a touch of someone' hand! I always sucked with words haha. When my kids are upset sometimes I don't know what to say to make them feel better :( I give them a hug and they claim that it makes things better. A hug or a touch of the hand is so powerful, and I'm sure he is still holding your hand in spirit even to this day! Remember that whenever you are feeling down ;)

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    1. Yes, it was (and is) definitely amazing how Grandpa Rollie found the strength to crawl on his hands and knees to hold my hand! I am sure God provided for him that strength!

      Yes, sometimes it can be hard to come up with the perfect words to say to make our loved ones and friends feel better! sometimes the best thing we can do is justp ray for them, and to give them some type of physical touch such as holding his or her hand or giving him or her a hug!

      I am sure Grandpa Rollie is in Heaven! And i am sure he in spirit is holding my hand! I look forward to reuniting with all my loved ones in Heaven especially Grandpa Rollie when I die or when the rapture happens...which ever comes first!

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