A tribute to my father
text concluded with this verse from the Bible: “The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you.”
1 After the war, Papa began studying to become a pastor, but had to give up his dream in order to help his parents during the financial crisis. With a family to support, he was never able to resume his studies. However, this didn't hinder him from continuing to share God's love wherever he went. He founded a Sunday school, and often stood in for the pastor at his local church. Visiting the sick and lonely was one of his favorite pastimes.
I was the youngest of six children. When I was small, Papa and I adored each other and spent countless precious moments together. But when I grew older and turned my back on God's love and the faith of my parents, it broke Papa's heart. I barely communicated with him during my teen years, as I didn't want to hear any of the sermons I expected him to preach.
So Papa opted to remain silent, while Mom and I argued a lot. “Why do you talk so much with our daughter?” Papa would ask her. “It might be better to talk with God about her!” Sometimes my heart cringed at the way he would look at me, his eyes full of sorrow. Our sweet father-daughter relationship had faded, and he found the hurt hard to bear. I felt miserable too, but didn't want to admit it, so I put on a tough front.
Papa talked to God about me, and God listened. At the age of 21, I experienced a miraculous transformation. Like a prodigal daughter, I returned to Jesus and asked Him to come into my life.
Papa was so glad. What a joyful reunion we had! Mom told me how over the years he had not ceased to pray desperately and with determination. Thank you, Papa, for holding on for me.
When Papa passed away, a short article about him appeared in a local newspaper. It concluded, “It's a rare thing to encounter such heartfelt kindness and patience as Mr. Gruenhage showed to others. Those who met him could feel that ‘he had been with Jesus' (Acts 4:13).”
In his own humble way, Papa was a saint—the sort that heaven is made of. Marina Gruenhage (1947–2005) was a full-time volunteer with the Family International for over 30 years, much of that time spent in Japan.