Through faith in Christ, I belong to the family of God. Christ isn’t just a part of my life, He is my life. There’s a verse in the Bible that says:

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21

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Death is gain because after death will come eternal life with Christ.

This verse was also the one that I felt best summarized my grandfather’s life when he passed away in April of 2017. It was this verse that inspired me to write this poem in remembrance of my grandfather’s life and in celebration of the fact that he is now home. The poem was originally written in Russian and here I have provided a translation.

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Воспоминание о Дедушке

Всю жизнь свою ты Богу посвятил,

Тогда, когда за это убивали.

Но ты надеялся на Бога и Eму служил,

Хотя встречались трудности, печали.

 

Всю жизнь ты приводил других к Христу,

Ты был для всех пример смиренья.

Показывал ты всем дорогу ко кресту,

Где каждый мог приобрести спасенье.

 

Всю жизнь ты нас благословлял в пути,

Молитвы возносил за нас пред Богом.

Чтобы Господь от злого нас хранил,

И путь нам осветил своим священным Словом.

 

Ты нас учил ждать встречи с Богом,

И к этой встрече быть готовыми всегда.

Учил не только словом, но и каждым делом,

Неутомленно славить Господа Христа.

 

Ты своей жизнью отражал любовь Христа.

Служил ты всем с любовью и смиреньем.

Ты ближнего любил как самого себя.

И каждый день встречал с благодареньем.

 

Но жизнь, жизнь та была земной лишь,

Теперь ты в царстве Господа Отца!

Теперь, теперь живёшь ты вечно,

В сиянии Всевышнего Творца.

 

Ведь твоей жизнью был Христос

И стала смерть твоим приобретеньем, 

Ты веру в Бога через жизнь пронёс,

Теперь ты в царстве радости, хваленья.

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Remembering Grandpa

 

You dedicated your entire life to God,

During a time when doing so meant risking your life.

But you had faith in God and served Him,

Even though you encountered trials and challenges.

 

You spent your life leading others to Christ,

You were an example of humility.

You showed people the way to the cross,

Where each person could find salvation.

 

Your entire life you blessed us,

You lifted prayers before God for us.

So that God would protect us from harm,

And would light our paths with His Holy Word.

 

You taught us to await reunification with God,

And to always be ready to stand before God.

You taught us to, not only in word, but also in deed,

Unceasingly glorify the Lord.

 

Your life reflected the love of Christ.

You served with love and humility.

You loved your neighbor as you loved yourself.

And gratefully met each new day.

 

But life, that life was merely earthly,

Now you are in the Kingdom of the Lord!

Now, now you are living eternally,

In the brilliance of the Almighty Creator.

 

Because for you to live was Christ

And death became your gain,

You carried your faith in God throughout your life,

And now you are in the Kingdom of joy and praise.