This was the last picture taken of my Paw Paw before he was diagnosed with cancer almost 16 months ago.

I’ve never lost anyone close before. I guess it’s something that everyone goes through, and I suppose I consider myself lucky that I’ve gone through almost 24 years being blessed with close friends and family.

My Paw Paw passed away last weekend. He had been fighting stage 4 cancer. When he was diagnosed almost 16 months ago, the doctors said he was in the “weeks to months” category as far as life expectancy. In that sense, it truly is a miracle that he was able to live as long as he did. And truly, the last year of his life was rich and full of life. He didn’t feel sick, and you never would have known his battle.

I can say truthfully that my Paw Paw was the godliest man I’ve ever known. He embodied what it meant to follow Jesus. He knew Scripture backwards and forwards. He prayed for his children and his grandchildren every day — he told me this on several occasions. He was a loving man. We used to joke that he had never met a stranger. He will surely be one of the greeters in Heaven!

The funeral service was this past Monday. I was asked to put together a “celebration of life” slideshow to be shown at his service.