something about my Dad

One of my Dad’s favorite hymns was ‘The Old Rugged Cross’.  I remember he was also fond of ‘How Great Thou Art’.  This post was going to be about this song, but while reading the lyrics, my mind went traveling back in time.  It was the second verse of ‘How Great Thou Art’ that sent me smiling down memory lane.

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.

Dad and I shared a great love of the outdoors.  I have sweet memories of the times we enjoyed it together.

He loved rocks.  Just like me.  He re-homed trunk loads of ‘interesting’ rocks and fossils from the farm in Tennessee where my Mom grew up.  The majority of those awesome fossils were re-homed with me.  (Confession: I have also re-homed a bunch of river rocks from my favorite place in the mountains.)

He loved creeks and streams and rivers and waterfalls.  Just like me.  He loved growing things.  Just like me.  He grew veggies and blackberries and bunches of other things.  I think he loved getting his hands dirty.  (My hands have also seen their share of dirt.)  He loved growing flowers.  I remember the time he grew all kinds in a greenhouse he built.  That’s why the smell of geraniums still makes me smile.

He loved raising animals - cows, chickens, bunnies.  (Confession: I have seen a cow gutted and a chicken running around without a head.)  That’s nasty, but also a part of life.

When I look thru the thousands of pictures I’ve taken, I will come across one I know he would like, and I smile.  I know his view in heaven is no comparison to the world outside my door.    

You can hear the song here, lyrics below.

http://faithtap.com/402/how-great-thou-art/#t/402/

'How Great Thou Art'

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.
Refrain:
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!

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.

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.

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!"