A letter to my children,
    A great man passed away tonight.  He was your Great Grandpa Bright.  Never have I met a more admirable, honest, hard working, loving man than he.  When Mimi divorced from my biological father, we had many problems with him as I grew up. Gpa, as I referred to him with yall, was always the mediator between Mimi and my biological father.  He was always the voice of reason.  He always tried to look at the situation from an objective point of view and approach it with what he felt was God's will in his mind.
      He spent many years as a teacher and coach, and even a few brief years as a principal.  He loved teaching and helping others.  He could often be found staying late after school having tutoring sessions and/or helping his students with any problems they were having.  As a girl growing up, even to this day, if I mention to someone that knew him, that Art Bright was my grandfather...their immediate response was always about how much they loved him.  They would always say that he was a hard teacher, but one who helped them every step of the way until they understood the material.  Everyone I have ever talked to loved and admired your Gpa.
      Your Gpa also left a legacy outside of teaching.  He loved to work with wood.  You could often times find him in the garage at Gigi and Gpa's house hard at work on clock, bookshelf, whatever was needed.  However, aside from the masterpieces he created in his garage, Gpa worked fervently for Habitat for Humanity.  He believed that God gave him the ability to build (more specifically to paint) and he spent HOURS at Habitat Houses painting so that another family in need had a place to live.  Your Gpa could be seen almost daily at whatever Habitat House was being built, hard at work to make it a home.  I remember a time, when I was sitting in church, and the pastor, Reverend House, was preaching on being kin to Jesus.  In his sermon he said, "My mothers and brothers and sisters are those who hear the word of God and do it.  And we wouldn't have built the number of Habitat Houses if it weren't for Art Bright and his passion for the ministry.  He led the way for our church - making sure every detail was taken care of...making sure we had people out there doing what needed to be done.  Because of his tireless response to the call of Jesus on his life, there are a host of people in Bryan/College Station that live in nice homes because there was a man with and honest and good heart who heard the word of God in his life and did it.    Kin to Jesus?  You bet!!!"   I remember hearing those words and almost jumping for joy at the amount of pride I felt!  I wanted to jump up and scream, "That's MY Grandpa!!!"  And girls, He was your Great Grandpa!!!  You should be proud...more than proud, ecstatic and boastful of the Gpa you were blessed with.  But, most of all, you should remember the example he set for us.  You should remember the countless hours he gave volunteering so others would have what they needed.  Remember his devotion and love of God.  Remember who he was and what he stood for...How, you might ask?  You didn't know him.  His actions, my girls.  For actions speak louder than words.  I hope that I can be half the person he was.  I strive to show others God's love as he did, and I hope that one day you will want to too.  Your Gpa left a legacy.  One that will always be remembered by those that knew him.  One that will live on, though his time on earth has come to a close.  Goodbye Gpa!  You are loved so much!  You will not be forgotten.  I know you are watching down from heaven, mind and body once again restored.  Enjoy the spot you procured with God, and I know that we will someday meet again!!!!

Love,
Christel

Days Like This

To My Babies with Love,   
          Today is one of the most emotionally (and therefore physically) draining days I have had in a long time.  This past Saturday, January 10, 2014, we buried your great grandfather Art, or Gpa as I refer to him around you.  Today, however, was his Celebration of Life.  What a celebration it was!  You're Gpa was such a great man!!!  I don't think it truly hit me that he is dead until today.  Everything, his Alzheimer's, his suffering, his death...it all hit me today.  I miss my grandpa!  The man that was always whistling a happy tune.  The man who was always smiling and never knew a stranger.  The man who would walk down the hallway of his school humming and greeting everyone.  Kids, when you grow up...I need you to remember that everyone was young once.  Take the time to really learn about and enjoy your elders.  They can tell you some funny stories!!!  I got to read Gpa's autobiography this past week.  It was great!  I really wish that I had read it before his death, and before the Alzheimer's really took a hold on him.  You learn so much and realize that your elders may not be that different from you.

Three things I learned from Gpa:
1) HELP OTHERS.  GIVE.  That may mean time, money, clothes.  Whatever God calls.  Do your best to make the world a better place.  Sometimes you will be thanked.  Sometimes you won't.  But, no matter what you will make someone else's life better.  Maybe then they will pay it forward and make someone else's day or even life better.  Sometimes it may seem like this world is a bad place and it doesn't matter if you do any good because all you see is people doing bad things.  If you ever feel this way, keep pushing forward and doing good for others.  Be the sun that others can't see. 
2) STAND STRONG FOR YOUR BELIEFS.  Some people won't like you.  Some people will. It's not your job to get everyone to like you. Your job is to discover what you believe in, and then stand for that belief.  Your Gpa was worshipped by some of his former students.  However, some of his formers students hated him.  But, the one thing none of them could say is that he did not care for them and help them to learn.  Gpa stood fast to his belief that math was important and that every student could learn.  He was tough.  But, he stood by his beliefs and helped his students to find their way and see the importance in what he taught.  He also stood strong in his faith.  Growing up, when I spent the night at Gigi and Gpa's house, they would wake up every morning and eat breakfast, then read a devotional and pray.  At the time I thought it was weird.  I loved and respected my grandparents though and would follow along and participate.  Looking back, this is one of the best things they could have instilled in me (and, I hope I instill in you).  Spend time with God each day!  Take the time to talk to him and listen to what He has to say.  Then, when he speaks to you and you hear his desires...follow them and stand for whatever the outcome may be.  God may not ask you to do the popular thing.  People may look at you and judge you because they do not understand or do not like your decision; but, if you believe it is the right thing to do, then stand by your decision.  Some people will like you...some people won't.  But, as the old song says, "You gotta stand for something or you'll fall for anything."
3)  DON'T BE PRIDEFUL.  Be willing to admit when you mess up or to change when change is needed.   Proverbs 11:2 says, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."  It's ok to be proud of an accomplishment. But, you shouldn't boast or rub it in anyone's faces.  Gpa worked hard his entire life.  He never bragged about anything.  He received many awards.  He was admired by many people.  He was never too proud to admit if he made a mistake and never bragged about his accomplishments. 


I love you Gpa!!!!  You will be missed!!!!!

     

A letter to my children,
    A great man passed away tonight.  He was your Great Grandpa Bright.  Never have I met a more admirable, honest, hard working, loving man than he.  When Mimi divorced from my biological father, we had many problems with him as I grew up. Gpa, as I referred to him with yall, was always the mediator between Mimi and my biological father.  He was always the voice of reason.  He always tried to look at the situation from an objective point of view and approach it with what he felt was God's will in his mind.
      He spent many years as a teacher and coach, and even a few brief years as a principal.  He loved teaching and helping others.  He could often be found staying late after school having tutoring sessions and/or helping his students with any problems they were having.  As a girl growing up, even to this day, if I mention to someone that knew him, that Art Bright was my grandfather...their immediate response was always about how much they loved him.  They would always say that he was a hard teacher, but one who helped them every step of the way until they understood the material.  Everyone I have ever talked to loved and admired your Gpa.
      Your Gpa also left a legacy outside of teaching.  He loved to work with wood.  You could often times find him in the garage at Gigi and Gpa's house hard at work on clock, bookshelf, whatever was needed.  However, aside from the masterpieces he created in his garage, Gpa worked fervently for Habitat for Humanity.  He believed that God gave him the ability to build (more specifically to paint) and he spent HOURS at Habitat Houses painting so that another family in need had a place to live.  Your Gpa could be seen almost daily at whatever Habitat House was being built, hard at work to make it a home.  I remember a time, when I was sitting in church, and the pastor, Reverend House, was preaching on being kin to Jesus.  In his sermon he said, "My mothers and brothers and sisters are those who hear the word of God and do it.  And we wouldn't have built the number of Habitat Houses if it weren't for Art Bright and his passion for the ministry.  He led the way for our church - making sure every detail was taken care of...making sure we had people out there doing what needed to be done.  Because of his tireless response to the call of Jesus on his life, there are a host of people in Bryan/College Station that live in nice homes because there was a man with and honest and good heart who heard the word of God in his life and did it.    Kin to Jesus?  You bet!!!"   I remember hearing those words and almost jumping for joy at the amount of pride I felt!  I wanted to jump up and scream, "That's MY Grandpa!!!"  And girls, He was your Great Grandpa!!!  You should be proud...more than proud, ecstatic and boastful of the Gpa you were blessed with.  But, most of all, you should remember the example he set for us.  You should remember the countless hours he gave volunteering so others would have what they needed.  Remember his devotion and love of God.  Remember who he was and what he stood for...How, you might ask?  You didn't know him.  His actions, my girls.  For actions speak louder than words.  I hope that I can be half the person he was.  I strive to show others God's love as he did, and I hope that one day you will want to too.  Your Gpa left a legacy.  One that will always be remembered by those that knew him.  One that will live on, though his time on earth has come to a close.  Goodbye Gpa!  You are loved so much!  You will not be forgotten.  I know you are watching down from heaven, mind and body once again restored.  Enjoy the spot you procured with God, and I know that we will someday meet again!!!!

Love,
Christel