More resolutions.

So a lot has happened in the last week. As Dickens would say, it's been the best of times and the worst of times. It's had everything to stuffing myself silly with thanksgiving goodness with the fam to coming home to two tests right off the bat.
Actually, the only thing that really got to me was that my grandpa died on Sunday. I don't really know why it's bothered me so much. I didn't ever have a relationship with him, and for that matter, neither did my Dad. Maybe that's why it was so hard for me to hear that he was gone. It was like a blow to the face, "Hey, he's gone, and you never knew him." It's not like I had much of a chance though. He had Alzheimer's disease for the last 8 years, and he was in a coma for the last week, so in that sense it was his time. Even before that he was always on shaky terms with my immediate family. But it was still a big wake up call to me. What really sucked was that, because of timing and everything, I won't be able to go to the funeral. I just can't take the week off with everything that I have to do this week. It sucks, but that's the way that it goes.
So, having thought much about it, I decided not to make my lack of relationship with my grandpa a trend. I had already been thinking long and hard about needing to be more in touch with my family than I am now. I just couldn't stand the thought of having another relative pass away without me knowing who they were and how they thought. I've spent so much time thinking about strengthening the relationships with my friends that I really overlooked those people who I'm going to spend eternity with. Friends are good, we all know that, but family...well, you get the idea.
And I'm also more grateful than ever for the plan of salvation. At least I haven't given up hope on ever seeing my Grandpa again because I know that simply won't be the case. And he will be given the chance to learn the things that have brought me the greatest joy of my life, and if he accepts them, I can have another chance at forming a relationship with him that I never could in this life.
It really makes me sad that some say that I don't know what happens after this life. First off because they really can't tell me what I know and what I don't. Only I can do that. But also because there is something so good about knowing. I don't know what state I would be in if my existence at the end of my life were in question. I wouldn't be able to live like that. But as I believe that my standing with God is good, and I know where I'm going, I don't need to be afraid for my death or anybody else. Life goes on, in every sense of the word.
So as the craziness winds down for this week, and I can get on top of things, I realized yet again how good life really is.