Sleep softly, dear godfather

This week has been a difficult ordeal for me. Since the beginning of June, I have been going to the hospital two to three times every week because my grandfather – who was also my godfather – was urgently admitted. After a few days of examination, it was clear that he had metastatic lung cancer. In the first few days, he still wanted to fight, but it was also already in his brain, and when he noticed that he was still deteriorating, it was enough for him, and he no longer wanted to fight.

But I never thought it would go so fast. Last Sunday, after church, I drove to him, but when I entered his room, I immediately saw that the end was near.

He said he wasn't religious himself, but he still spoke of wanting to go to his wife, who had passed away six years earlier. For that reason, in all silence and intimacy when I was alone with him in the room, I gave him a blessing in which I promised him that he would peacefully pass on to the spirit world and that, if he were to accept the gospel there, I would perform the necessary ordinances for him here on earth.

When I left that evening and left him alone with my mother, I gave him another hug and told him how much I loved him. He only let out a deep sigh; nothing more was possible due to the pain medication. A few hours later, I received a call from my mother that his struggle was over.

Last Wednesday I was able to say my final goodbye to him. That was a very difficult moment for me. This is truly the last time I will see him here. From now on, it's waiting for the moment we see each other again in the spirit world.

My faith has been quite tested this week. The scriptures state that faith is the pure hope for what we cannot see. This week, I truly felt the meaning of that. Pure hope that everything I believe is true and that I will truly get the chance to hold him in my arms again.

I miss him terribly. Yesterday I prayed that Heavenly Father would go to him and give him a hug and say “this comes from your grandson”. I would love to hear from above that he received that hug and that everything is okay, that he is truly happy now.

Dear godfather, due to the distance we didn't see each other as much anymore, but I know you loved me and I hope you know that I love you too. I miss you terribly, dear godfather. Until we meet again, in God's father's house...