In Loving Memory...

My Grandfather passed away on May 22nd. I haven't had the heart to post anything about it, because I know the more I think about him, the more I will cry, and I can't stand to do that anymore. I am not a religious person, anyone who knows me can attest to that, but I would like to post the songs that were sung at his funeral, as they brought tears to my eyes (and the eyes of everyone in the church) at the time, and they still have the power to bring me to tears - not an easy feat, as people know.

How Great Thou Art
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O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
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Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
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When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
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Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
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And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
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Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
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Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
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As I said, I am not religious, but that was one of my grandfathers favorite songs, and some how hearing it makes me think of him.

Borning Cry

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I was there to hear your borning cry,

I'll be there when you are old.

I rejoiced the day you were baptized,

to see your life unfold.

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I was there when you were but a child,

with a faith to suit you well;

In a blaze of light you wandered off

to find where demons dwell.

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When you heard the wonder of the Word

I was there to cheer you on;

You were raised to praise the living Lord,

to whom you now belong.

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If you find someone to share your time

and you join your hearts as one,

I'll be there to make your verses rhyme

from dusk 'till rising sun.

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In the middle ages of your life,

not too old, no longer young,

I'll be there to guide you through the night,

complete what I've begun.

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When the evening gently closes in,

and you shut your weary eyes,

I'll be there as I have always been

with just one more surprise.

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I was there to hear your borning cry,

I'll be there when you are old.

I rejoiced the day you were baptized,

to see your life unfold.

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Now, I love that last song, and at the funeral it was the straw that broke the camels back... although in this case the camels were my younger cousin and myself. This song, for whatever reason, is enough to make me burst into tears - and having it sung at the funeral will ensure that whenever I hear that song, for the rest of my life, I'll burst into tears. Gotta love that, eh?
*
My grandfather was a great man, who taught many people a great deal, and who seemed to know everything about everything. I know everyone thinks their dad or their grandfather is the best, but my grandfather was a sweet, intelligent, funny, hardworking man who loved his family and friends and took great pride in the work a person could do with their hands, and for that I think he was the greatest man I have ever met. I will always love him and miss him, and I will always admire him for all of the things he taught me, my brothers, and the rest of our family.
*R.I.P. Papa, you will be forever missed*