"Fight to the End"

The above picture is the collage I mention later on in this post. It's 1600 x 1200 pixels which is rather large so you can get a closer look by clicking on the image if you'd like. Also, if you'd like the full resolution image, let me know and I'll send it to you.

NOTE: Not wanting to make light of Grandma Johnson going to be with our Father in heaven, I'm hesitant to combine my love for the Minnesota Wild and Grandma Johnson.

It was a fitting tag line this weekend; "Fight to the End". The Minnesota Wild adapted it as their official slogan to use throughout the playoffs. But when it was all said and done, their time in the playoffs ended the same weekend grandma Johnson ended her time on earth.

We received the call that grandma Johnson had died on Wednesday night. We knew it was coming but we didn't know when her inevitable face-to-face appointment with God was. With the Short-Term Mission Leaders Conference happening the next day, I was thankful I had been able to get my responsibilities taken care of beforehand.

Mid-morning Thursday, we headed to Peshtigo, Wisconsin with mixed emotions. Sadness in the passing of grandma. Relief for her passing due to the amount of pain and discomfort she had been in the previous couple of weeks. Stress in hoping we had crossed all our "T's" and dotted all of our "I's" before we left. Joy that grandma was now better off than we were knowing there was nothing separating her and Jesus!

That night through Friday afternoon were nice in that some of us could sleep-in, relax with family, go to the mall, put in a movie, catch some playoff hockey, and/or work on some freelance. (That last one was obviously me as I'm designing invitations for a "Quinceañera" or a "Quince Años".) A Quinceañera is celebrated in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Central and South America on a girl's 15th birthday and described as:

a celebration of the young girl (la Quinceanera), and a recognition of her journey from childhood to maturity. The celebration highlights God, family, friends, music, food, and dance.

It's been fun to design invitations for a very nice family as well as for an occasion I'd never heard of before. A thanks goes to Tri Dey Mayer for her referral of the family to me.

Anyway, Friday afternoon, the Johnson family (Kevin, De. Josh, & Danae), us, and Danae's boyfriend Scott went to see grandma's body at the funeral home. As you can imagine it was tough. I had mentally prepared myself before hand but really struggled when Danae broke into tears. It's so hard to see loved one's hurting.

Although it was tough seeing grandma lying there, we all knew it wasn't really her. What made grandma...well...grandma, was gone. We, especially the Johnson family, had shared their memories and fun stories of her the night before while getting ready a picture collage of her life. It was fun hearing stories and seeing her in her youth.

Saturday hit nearly every range of emotions possible. It was good having seen grandma's body the night before but it still hurt. As people came to pay their respects, the mood was surprisingly joyful. I expected the visitation of 1:00 - 3:00 to be somber and quiet. On the contrary, it was a joy to see familiar faces and catch up with those I hadn't seen since our wedding day.

Though grandma was the reason for the occasion, I'd have to say Brevin was a good opening act. We had Aunt Opy and her daughter Miranda do some babysitting as it would have been tough for Brevin to be content during the entire visitation. As soon as he came in, the "mom's" flocked over to him to see who could be the first to hold him. Sure enough, as the first mom grabbed him, she immediately started walking around, showing him to her husband, and talking to him. She was in "Mom Mode" and no outside force could shut her down.

As the service started, the mood performed a complete 180. The mood which I was expecting from the beginning showed up. It was an emotionally contained presentation by grandma's only son Kevin. He did well in holding together and yet conveyed his mom's life in a way we all felt as though we had been with her from the beginning. He also spoke of the hope and joy those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ have. It was a breath of fresh air with a light breeze that filled the room.

Upon completion of the service and the lunch provided by the church afterwards, we were all mentally drained. It was a taxing yet grandma honoring day. That night the Johnson's humored me by letting me watch the Wild attempt to stay alive in their hunt for the Stanly Cup. In the end they just didn't have enough fight in them to get past the Avalanche.

A "Fight to the End" really did sum up grandma's life. She fought sin and never gave up. God gave her 89 years and we can all see at least some of the fruits of her labor. A husband. A son. A daughter-in-law. Grandchildren. A grandchild. And most importantly, a love for Jesus Christ. What's also great to see is how God used her to pass on His love to so many others. Her husband. Her son. Her daughter-in-law. Her grandchildren. Her grandchild. And "we love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Thank you grandma Johnson for your love. For reflecting God's love. For training your child up as he should go (Proverbs 22:6). Thank you God for loving grandma and revealing yourself through her life. We can't wait to see you both face-to-face.

—b