For 97 years, my friend Victor Bergquist modeled gratitude. Long before Hollywood film director Frank Capra introduced us to a thankful George Bailey, Vic was celebrating his own wonderful life.

Vic began running the marathon of life on Nov. 11, 1918, the day the Allied Forces declared victory in World War 1. His parents, grateful the conflict had ended, named their firstborn Victor in honor of the armistice.

When I met this Mercer Island resident 11 years ago, it dawned on me just how perfect Vic’s name was. Early on he’d learned how to claim victory in the midst of defeat. When he was only 9, his mother died unexpectedly. The grief-stricken lad proceeded to lean on a Heavenly Father that would not let him go.

As he grew up, Vic never found himself unemployed. His regular paycheck was a source of gratitude. As a young husband and father of a 2 year-old son, Vic was drafted in 1944. In spite of the fact that his wife was pregnant with their second child, he was grateful for the privilege to serve his Uncle Sam. When his baby girl was born the following year, Vic rejoiced that he would be granted an early discharge. Vic kept finding blessings to count when he settled into a career as a successful salesmen.

Born the same week as Evangelist Billy Graham, Vic’s life was punctuated by a similar passion. He was consistently inviting others to experience what he believed to be the source of his happiness.

As I got to know Vic at Covenant Shores, I discovered every day was Thanksgiving Day for this positive pilgrim. Three little words dominated Vic’s vocabulary. “Thank you, Lord!”

He was grateful his oldest son and his oldest grandson had followed calls on their lives into pastoral ministry. He gave God thanks that his contagious faith had been successfully passed to future generations.

A year ago, Vic was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Still, the thankful heart of this veteran of gratitude didn’t skip a beat. He looked forward to Heaven. He was excited to be reunited with loved ones (including his wife) who waited for him on the other side.

On more than one occasion, Vic had confided how much he longed to see his mother. With tears in his eyes, my friend confessed that he had pined for her since her death some nine decades before. One of the tangible reasons he was so grateful for Heaven was the fact that he’d be able to wrap his arms around a woman who left him too soon. It was a reunion that took place exactly a week after Thanksgiving Day.

Contact Pastor Greg Asimakoupoulos at AwesomeRev@aol.com.