Is it good or great?

10 years ago today, one of my most favorite people in the world took his last breath and walked through the gates of heaven. I can bet that the second he stepped through, he never looked back, but I have missed him every moment since.  He was a follower of Christ, he was a veteran and a true American hero, and he was my granddad, a family man that was loved by his wife, children, and grandchildren. We were blessed immensely by his life and his faith.  

One of my favorite things my Granddad always said to me was, "Is that good or great, Carrie?"  He could have been asking about our glasses of chocolate milk, his newest pair of shoes, or the beautiful weather outside. I can still hear him asking me with a smile on his face.  I miss his smile, his laugh, and his constant support.

Sometimes I think he wouldn't recognize me if he saw me today. Not because of physical changes, but because of the emotional and spiritual changes. I have grown and learned so much in the past 10 years, but then I realize he would know exactly who I am, because it's all of those things that he always saw and believed in me.  He knew who I could be before I even knew.


In the early days after he passed away (and still to this day), the greatest comfort I received was praising Jesus through worship songs because I knew that's what he was doing at the same time.  For the past 10 years, my granddad has been at the feet of Jesus, worshipping his creator.

I can only imagine that when I get to heaven's gates, he'll greet me there, we'll go worship our Father together, and he'll ask me with a smile on his face, "Is it good or great, Carrie?"