"Who Shot Charlie Brown?"

Many of you are probably curious as to the title of my post today, but there are a select few that know creator of this quote. and for the record im not talking about charles schultz. No, today i come to honor a different man- a great man- my grandfather. for most of my life at grandma and papa's any time someone wanted to watch a movie and he got asked what he wanted to watch he always said..."who shot charlie brown" (and it took me several years to realize that it wasnt even a movie- and if it is a movie im not sure that i want to see it haha!) but, and i have nothing to back this up, but lots of people talk about THE question or questions that they are going to ask jesus when they get to heaven- and if there really is such a question and answer time, i sure do hope that papa asked him that...
what follows is a letter that has been floating around in various forms/states/ideas and like for the last several months. i have no idea how its really going to turn out, and maybe this is just my way of dealing with it....

Dear Dub-
It is so different now. and you know that better than i do. It different for me just calling you that, but it seemed like the right thing to do. But Papa, im not sure what else to say. Its been tough without you. We all miss you something terrible, and we all love you very much. I feel bad for miller, because he is the one left with you. I got your name, but he got you. just everything about you and the way you lived your life, i think he feels the pressure of it too sometimes, but dont get me wrong, you left me a pretty good name to live up too, and it wont be easy. We will do our best to make you proud.
Papa, this is something that i am proud of- you and the quiet life that you led. Throughout the week of your celebration service there were so many people that came to say goodbye. Papa youll never realize the impact that you had. NEVER. every time that we were there more and more people wanted to come see you and say goodbye. and as tough as it was losing you, seeing all of the wonderful friends and family was nice. with you being a man that never said much, much less anything bad- i sometime wonder if you ever made an enemy. you wouldnt believe the amount of people that showed up. i was blown away. You made some really really good friends while you were here, and they are taking really good care of grandma- so ill thank them when you get the chance.
Here is the thing that i am most impressed with- on the day that god called you home, as we were all at still at the hospital brother bert( a neat guy himself) was talking to me and miller and was telling us a story of one of the last visits that he had with you. he told us that the only thing that you were concerned with, was that you hadnt done enough for jesus. (now i would argue that every christian can say this, but thats not the point) and Papa i just want to tell you that its not true at all. I cant think of a more Godly example of a person- the way that you carried yourself all the time, the way that cared about your wife, and the way that you loved your children and grandchildren. The best way to look at a man's life is to look at his family, and Papa, you did a pretty darn good job. If nothing else you showed me something that is priceless, Papa you showed me what true love really is. First of all you were married to the same woman for over FIFTY YEARS! i just hope that i get married and live to be 50. what an incredible testimony to you both. and i have no doubt that it was your unyeilding faith and belief in jesus that got you through most of those tough times. you were always so quick to tell us that god had been good to you- and i believe you. another way that you showed me true love was in your relationship to me. now i know that you and grandma grew up in different times and things were tough and you didnt have much, but that didnt matter to you. because you had each other. and i know that you and grandma didnt have tons of money, but you showed us love by being there for us. it didnt matter what or where it was. if you could be there you were. sometime even just coming up to watch baseball practice in college on nice days. i miss that. and papa i know that you know im a head coach now, and itll be great and i hope that lots of family gets to come and see, but it just wont be the same without you there. thanks for that. i never said it enough, but thanks.
there is so much that i want to tell you, but papa there is so much that i want you to tell me. How awesome is heaven? i mean i know that i wont ever understand until i get there but i cant imagine? and papa tell me what its like to be healthy again? how does it feel to be free from the oxygen? as much as we came to accept it as you, it sure must be nice to not have to worry about it or your tanks anymore right? (oh if you can believe it- its quieter at grandma's now..) But Papa this is what i really want you to tell me. and i know that there were lots of talk about you and uncle rudy getting to go on hikes again together, and thats a nice picture and all- but what was it like when you met jesus? if uncle rudy got to take you on that great hike that would be neat, but words cant describe what it must be like. seeing jesus face to face. being able to worship him in person- and i know that you were just a hummer in church, but im willing to bet you can sing in heaven. gosh the things that youve seen and done. how amazing.
i know that this letter is getting long but there are just a few more things. Papa, your birthday would have been saturday and while grandma stayed up till midnight just so she could sing happy birthday to you loud and proud, i got you a present. and this is not something that can be bought with corruptible things like money, gold, silver, or jewlery. this can only be paid for by the blood of jesus. and maybe its not for you, but i have know doubt its because of you and your inspiration to me. friday night and saturday morning we went on a youth trip and i had a great time. but papa, i got to tell somebody about jesus. something that i had never been able to do. we had 5 get saved that night, and i was able to lead one of them to christ. i just wish i couldve seen your face when the angles came in to write his name in the book of life, but it wasnt anything that i did dont worry- god gets all the glory for it. but papa, dont you see? you did so much with your life- and because of it at least one more person is going to heaven. and thats enough right there. im not giving up though. ive been praying for this for years, and while he may have been the first that god gave me the opportunity to lead to salvation i surely am praying that he isnt the last. so happy birthday.
In closing i just want to tell you that as much as we miss you, and as tough as its been, especially on grandma- we know that you are in so much of a better place that we cant even begin to understand- and it would extremely selfish if we asked you to come back. so dont come back. dont you dare come back. we want you to stay where you are, and without any of the physical problems that you had yours last few year- we will see you again, so dont worry about us we will be fine.
Now, as you were always fond of saying, and im not sure why you would need them in heaven- a place with streets of gold, crystal seas, and pearly gates...Papa- dont take no wooden nickles...

I Love You
David