Mileage of Gold-A Tribute to Papa C
Papa C drove over 70 thousand miles for his grandchildren.
Some people measure a life by years. Others measure it by accomplishments. But when I think of Papa C, I think of mileage. Mileage is the aggregate distance traveled, for a car it is the distance it can travel per unit of fuel according to Webster’s Dictionary. My father-in-law, who I endearingly named Papa C from the first time I laid eyes on him safely drove my daughter’s every morning to their destination for the past eight years.
He never complained. He had a cheerful countenance. He was always thanking the Lord. “God blessed us with another beautiful day", was how he greeted me at the door. He had the sweetest relationship with his granddaughters.
“That’s my sweet Leah.”
“Good Girl Maya!”
For my oldest he never missed a Grandparents Day at her school. For my youngest he never stopped praising her over daily milestones.
He was a tall, robust man. He had been through numerous medical complications, but he never allowed it to slow him down. He was friendly to everybody greeting neighbors with a hearty good morning even if they didn’t speak back. When I couldn’t make an Open House or Meet the Teacher Night, he would take my place sending a picture of my daughter and her new teacher. Looking at those messages in the middle of my own Open House night would ease a mother’s anxious heart. Papa C made me feel like I didn’t miss a thing! He was always present, rapping on the door with his signature knock bearing groceries, dresses for the girls from Khol’s as if to say, “Papa C is here, don’t worry I have taken care of everything.”
But just like a breeze that blows, he has flown away. My oldest turned eight in the middle of May. It was a Monday morning. We had one more week of the school year before the summer. It was 6:15am. Papa C was going to deliver cake pops to her class. I looked out the window, and I didn’t see his shiny Lincoln. He was always on time…My husband called and he didn’t pick up. He always picked up…He always reminded me to be on time. We called the house and my mother-in-law picked up and she said the words that froze time, ‘He’s not responding.”
My husband flew out the house with one destination on his mind. I prayed. Throughout the days in ICU we prayed. We prayed for a full recovery. We prayed and prayed with everything we had. We wanted to keep him. We wanted him to stay with us. But God had better plans. He took him home. That day I drove to see him in the hospital I saw the clouds open up and I truly believe it was God’s entryway preparing Papa C for a grand entrance into heaven. By his bedside, I spoke to him about the clouds parting, I thanked him, I told him how much I loved him and how much he was going to love his new home where there wouldn’t be any more pain or suffering. There wouldn’t be any more trips to the doctor, no more medication, no more surgeries just peace, rest and endless bliss.
Papa C has taught me many things that I hold close to my heart. They’re my keepsake and how I will remember him.
He has taught me to cherish life and moments.
He has taught me to never give up hope in Christ.
He has taught me there is strength in quietness.
He taught me to be there for people, always.
He has taught me the importance of preparation and being places on time.
His living legacy is not the mileage on his Lincoln or the miles driven in his Ford truck, but the miles of love he poured into the people around him. The miles he traveled to show up. The miles spent carrying family, sharing wisdom, telling stories, and making memories that seemed casual at the time but now shine like gold.
My Georgia Papa
His granddaughters may not have realized they were collecting treasures. A ride in the car. A story in a chair. A day by the lake. A quiet conversation. Each moment became another mile on a journey of love.
Looking back, I wish there were more photographs. More snapshots of the everyday moments. But perhaps the greatest pictures were never captured by a camera. They were etched into our hearts.
The mileage of his life cannot be counted on an odometer. It is measured in the lives he touched, the family he loved, and the legacy he leaves behind. And that is why his mileage is gold.
Papa C drove a lot!
Takeaways
What I would like for you to take from the life he lived is to give your tributes to others by
being kind
being present
being helpful
finding a reason to be cheerful
cherishing every moment
not arguing
finding peace in every situation
As for Papa C, one day he awoke, there was no need to stop his alarm for he found himself in the arms of eternity with a Savior he could finally see. I can only imagine the first words he spoke, sight like a newborn as he received his Mileage of Gold Award.
If you have any prayer requests, feel free to post below or email them to theparablegirl@gmail.com
