My Grandpa loved crossword puzzles.

On my visit to Washington earlier this month, I was looking through one of the last crossword puzzles he worked on before he passed away.

Puzzle 90.

My mom had told Alexa to play Lauren Daigle a few minutes before and the song Once and For All was playing.

My eyes were drawn to 27 across. The clue: Brief farewell. The word? Bye.

I felt like a detective who had found a great treasure. A word of closure in his handwriting, a word that I’d never hear this man speak again.

I showed my mom the puzzle. We cried together. Another step in processing the grief of losing a loved one.

There’s another word in that crossword that has been on my mind.

25 down. The clue: Follower. The word?

Tagalong.

Immediately I thought of the Girl Scout cookie. Vanilla cookies and peanut butter covered with chocolate. (I’m not sure I’ve had one before. #gluten)

Then I thought about how I love to be a tagalong. Whether it’s with a friend or family member, especially with my mom or my sisters. Maybe it stems from not wanting to miss out on anything. Or maybe it’s wanting to spend time with someone without an agenda of my own.

Webster’s defines tagalong as “one that persistently and often annoyingly follows the lead of another.”

I’m not sure I like the negative connotation of the definition. Persistent, absolutely. But annoying? That’s definitely not my intention. (Maybe a little bit with my sisters.)

Often it’s to get out of the house, to go experience the real world without my four kids in tow. Even just joining a friend as they run errands or get groceries. I may not buy a thing, but I can push a cart and help gather items.

I can be a tagalong.

With people, I think tagalongs initiate the following. And there’s a constant striving, trying to keep up with the leader. To match their stride and not fall behind.

But another One came to mind with 25 down… Jesus.

He invites us to follow. He calls us to come. He welcomes the tagalong with open arms.

The hungry, the humble. The disciple, the student. The persistent, yes. But I can’t picture Him labeling us annoying when we’re following after Him.

His grace is sufficient, His love covers all. He doesn’t leave us behind. He is patient with us.

One of the Greek words for follow is akoloutheō; it means “properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (especially, as a disciple)… to join one who precedes, join him as his attendant… become his disciple, side with his party… to cleave steadfastly to one, conform wholly to his example, in living and if need be in dying also.”

He made a way for us to tagalong. He loves when we accompany Him, when we join in and participate in a relationship with Him. He delights when we hold tight to Him, when we persevere and imitate Him.

I can’t think of a better road to walk, or a better journey to follow His footsteps on.

Wholeheartedly, a tagalong. In the best sense of the word.

❤