Grandpa just passed away

12 Dec 2006. 2348 hours.

That was around 3 hours ago. I was there. Saw how he breathed his last few breaths. And then he stopped breathing. Just lay there motionless. I didn't cry. I only cry when I see other people crying. I cry because I feel the sadness in other people.

I'm not numb to death. I'm terribly afraid of it. Just that I know of Some One who can overcome it, and Some Better Place after it happens. And then maybe you will no longer feel afraid anymore.

When your Reality is Heaven, I don't think you will feel sad at all. You may feel sad at first. But later you would rejoice. Despair will not have a permanent hold on you.

I remember how quickly Grandpa's condition got worse. I didn't get to see him for a few weeks when I was in army. Sometimes I would come home for the weekend, and probably only see him a few times, because normally he would be sleeping. And one day, I suddenly saw how skinny he has become. He was emaciated. He was sickly. He was wasting away slowly. And then I had to go for the Exercise trip to Australia for 3 more weeks. I came back, and this time his condition worsened still. But I got to see him one last time. He couldn't respond properly. He couldn't speak. But I think he knew there were people around him, and perhaps this comforted him. Maybe he knew I was there. Maybe he didn't. It didn't matter.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.." John 11:25