Grandpa

Thank you, Jesus, for blessing the world with this man for eighty-eight years. Grandpa followed Christ from Harperville, Mississippi through medical school at Tulane in New Orleans during World War II. During his medical internship in Memphis, Tennessee, he met and married my grandma, Rebecca Lisanby. Together they survived Birmingham, Alabama, San Francisco, California, Clarksdale, Mississippi, and finally made their home in Cleveland, Mississippi for almost 60 years.

Samuel Duff Austin was a faithful, loving husband to his "Becca" for 63 years; he loved and provided for four children, Cathy, Susan, Richmond, and Melinda. He delighted and adored his nine grandchildren, always saying something sweet to the girls, taking the boys fishing, and sharing a Hershey's Kiss or Snickers bar with all his chocolate-loving family. He welcomed his first great-grandchild to the world on August 20, 2008.

His patient hands and listening ears administered grace and medical care to his patients during his over-60 year practice. God gifted him with the skills and abilities to be an excellent diagnostician, and in his practice, he served as a vehicle of God's grace and care to many who were suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally.

He has pictured Christ to his family and friends. Always present, always loving, always providing, always compassionate, always giving. His absence leaves a great void in our lives. Christ alone gives us peace while we miss Grandpa, just as Christ has already healed and completed Grandpa in his own, glorious presence.

When I was a little girl and would visit Grandpa, he always held his hand over his heart and told me that his heart was missing something when I was gone from him. On November 3, 2008, that earthly heart that he would hold his hand over failed him and failed his body. But his Lord Jesus has made his heart more whole than it ever was on this earth, and one day he will live in a new body without disease, and his whole family with him. And we will praise the LORD as we ought in that day.

Thank you, Jesus, for blessing us through Grandpa's life. Thank you for redeeming him and for claiming his whole family for your own. Thank you for loving him better than any of us, who love him so much. Come quickly.