Six people who changed the world- Grandpa Abeyta

I can barely remember my grandpa before his stroke. I believe I was 11 years old, and my grandfather was a very young man, in his 50's, when he suffered a debilitating stroke, almost completely paralyzing him on his left size. A man who had made his living working with his hands his entire life was now without the use of them. When I think about my grandpa Abeyta, I think about strength, unbelievable strength. He did not let his paralysis stop him. Before the stroke, he had always worked full time and pastored churches on the weekend. Now, he would minister full time. He would drive his motor home, paralyzed, 100 miles each way every Sunday to pastor the church at Rio Chiquito in Northern New Mexico. With one hand, he would hitch his tow car to the back of the motor home.
As the effects of the stroke and being paralyzed for 2t years took its toll on my grandfather, his body began to deteriorate. When I would return to visit, he would not always recognize me, or my wife or my kids. Still, it was a shock when he died, days after the birth of my daughter, and exactly 2 weeks later than Grandma Lala.
As I prepared to speak at his funeral, I realized that everything I did before I preach came from him. From the time I arrive at the church to the way I kept my notes, I learned that from him. He's a part of me, forever.