my grandpa

My Grandpa, Hugh I. Bunn, passed away Sunday. He was 89. We're going to miss him but we know he's better off. As my dad put it, at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, Grandpa walked (key word, walked) through the gates of pearl and met Jesus face to face. No more pain. No more discomfort. We're all glad for him.

The funeral was Wednesday. And it was a celebration. The reason we could celebrate is twofold. One, we celebrated because of the life he led. Grandpa was a great guy. And he loved the Lord. And that's the second reason we could celebrate: We're not wondering where he's spending eternity. We know where he is because he had a personal relationship with Jesus.

Here are a few memories of Grandpa that will cherish:

• Going to his house as a kid to spend the night. Grandpa's place was awesome. Everything a kid could want: an in-ground swimming pool, woods to explore, a playground on the other side of the woods, and of course, Grandpa and Grandma.


• Grandpa took me to a fireworks show after I had misbehaved badly one day. He told me I better not tell my parents about it.


• Christmastime carried huge family tradition with it. Every Christmas Eve the entire family would gather at their home for a wild times. Two things highlighted every Christmas Eve: 1. Grandpa posing as Santa Clause outside, ringing a bell and leaving a big bag of presents on the front porch. It was so exciting. 2. The Chicken Dance. The entire family would cluck and scratch around the room to a very cool chicken rendition of In The Mood. This was usually capped off by Grandma laying an egg by the Christmas tree. Fun times.


• One time, after posing as Santa and delivering the gifts, Grandpa got locked outside of the house and couldn't get back in. We were all just yucking it up, having a good time, opening gifts and apparently didn't miss him. He stood outside in the freezing cold until it occurred to somebody, "Where's Grandpa?"


• The spread of food was always amazing at Christmas. Grandpa was a great cook.


• Grandpa was also a world-class eater. I always said, "If eating was an Olympic event, he'd take home the gold."


• Grandpa really enjoyed life. He knew how to have fun.


• As newlyweds, Jenny and I often visited Grandpa at his home on Lake Cumberland. We'd spend hours and hours on the lake, swimming and water skiing. In fact, he's the one who taught me how to water ski.


• I could go on, but one of my fondest memories will be from this past November. My dad had a revival at his church and invited my brother-in-law, my uncle, and myself (all pastors) to preach. On the first night of revival, Grandpa sat in the front row (as usual). During prayer time, Dad opened the altar to anyone who wanted to come forward to pray. Grandpa, 89 years old, with four hip replacement surgeries, basically crawled to the altar and knelt to pray. He just wanted to be close to God.
  

I love my Grandpa. I'll miss him. But I know I'll see him again one day.

this pic is of my Grandpa and my sister celebrating their birthdays during the revival weekend last November