On Friday I heard my Grandpa was not doing well
We went over to spend some time
My sat around laughing and talking
but my Grandpa was dying...
His great grandchildren played in the backyard
They ran in and out
Their little voices were heard all over the house
but my Grandpa was dying...
The TV was on
CNN first, then some other mindless TV
Just something to provide a little background noise
but my Grandpa was dying
Grandchildren held his hands
Whispered sweet thank yous and I-love-yous
We wanted him to know how much we appreciated his life
but my Grandpa was dying
Great grandchildren ran to his side and stared
Trying to figure out why "Grandpa" was laying so still
They touched his hands and quietly said "Hi Grandpa"...
but my Grandpa was dying
Hospital bed, medical equipment, and medication
Litter every room of the house
Hospice nurses in and out all day long
because my Grandpa was dying
Random shouts of praise, random words of thanks
"Thank you Jesus, God is Good, Wonderful Savior"
These are all things I heard my Grandpa say
as he lay dying....
We left and went home for the night...
Saturday morning I woke up
It looks like it would be a beautiful day
I hear the little birdies singing outside
But my Grandpa was still dying...
Someone outside was mowing their lawn
Someone outside was going for their morning run
Someone outside was walking their dog outside
at the same time my Grandpa was dying
In such a weird way
Life goes on
Time goes on
Even though my Grandpa was dying
The imminent end of things has been nigh for awhile
Friends and family have had much time to say good things
Much time to tie up loose ends
Because we knew my Grandpa was dying
At first I felt calm
Took a long shower
Played with my kids
Even though my Grandpa was dying
My family needed bread
I set my hands to being busy
My heard was pounding, I needed to be
with my Grandpa because he was dying
Half of the bread got baked
The other half got in the car with me
I could finish up what I had started in my grandparents home
Because my Grandpa was dying
In and out all day
Conscious one minute and then out the next
He would talk about sports for a minute then go to sleep
because he was dying
The NFL draft was on
Normally a focal point in this house on this day
Somehow so unimportant now
that he lays dying
Sips of tea, sips of water, straws in coffee cups
Rubbing his hands, stroking his forehead
Leaning close to his face to hear his words
because Grandpa was dying
Some discomfort, a little pain
Some grimacing, very little swallowing
Lots of sleep, joy at each phone call and doorbell ring
even though he was dying
Children in Germany, London, and near Canada
Children in Houston, Maryland, and Texas
All either called or kissed him
because their father lay dying
Son-in-laws came to visit
Shook his hand and said hi
Seemed to find it hard to sit and watch
Grandpa because he was dying
Grandma was busy, oh so busy
Sweeping, dusting, straightening,
Glad for so much company
even though Grandpa was dying
Prayers, visits, songs,
Scriptures, words of encouragement
Food, hot tea, hugs, kisses
So much activity as Grandpa was dying
Great grandchildren came to see him again
Sang Sunday school songs for him to hear
Kissed him on his cheek multiple times
because their great grandfather was dying
Many times today I've hard him say things like...
"God is so good, life goes so fast
I'm so glad my children know the Lord"
even as he lay dying
It's 11:30 pm.
From across the room I watch a man I've always known
Earning each breath that he takes
because he is dying
He's a patriarch
He's a leader
He's a minister
He's an educator
He's a worshipper
He's a family man
He's a good man
He's a hard worker
He's an immigrant
He will be the first person I've known in my family tree to go to see Jesus
He's my Grandpa
We went over to spend some time
My sat around laughing and talking
but my Grandpa was dying...
His great grandchildren played in the backyard
They ran in and out
Their little voices were heard all over the house
but my Grandpa was dying...
The TV was on
CNN first, then some other mindless TV
Just something to provide a little background noise
but my Grandpa was dying
Grandchildren held his hands
Whispered sweet thank yous and I-love-yous
We wanted him to know how much we appreciated his life
but my Grandpa was dying
Great grandchildren ran to his side and stared
Trying to figure out why "Grandpa" was laying so still
They touched his hands and quietly said "Hi Grandpa"...
but my Grandpa was dying
Hospital bed, medical equipment, and medication
Litter every room of the house
Hospice nurses in and out all day long
because my Grandpa was dying
Random shouts of praise, random words of thanks
"Thank you Jesus, God is Good, Wonderful Savior"
These are all things I heard my Grandpa say
as he lay dying....
We left and went home for the night...
Saturday morning I woke up
It looks like it would be a beautiful day
I hear the little birdies singing outside
But my Grandpa was still dying...
Someone outside was mowing their lawn
Someone outside was going for their morning run
Someone outside was walking their dog outside
at the same time my Grandpa was dying
In such a weird way
Life goes on
Time goes on
Even though my Grandpa was dying
The imminent end of things has been nigh for awhile
Friends and family have had much time to say good things
Much time to tie up loose ends
Because we knew my Grandpa was dying
At first I felt calm
Took a long shower
Played with my kids
Even though my Grandpa was dying
My family needed bread
I set my hands to being busy
My heard was pounding, I needed to be
with my Grandpa because he was dying
Half of the bread got baked
The other half got in the car with me
I could finish up what I had started in my grandparents home
Because my Grandpa was dying
In and out all day
Conscious one minute and then out the next
He would talk about sports for a minute then go to sleep
because he was dying
The NFL draft was on
Normally a focal point in this house on this day
Somehow so unimportant now
that he lays dying
Sips of tea, sips of water, straws in coffee cups
Rubbing his hands, stroking his forehead
Leaning close to his face to hear his words
because Grandpa was dying
Some discomfort, a little pain
Some grimacing, very little swallowing
Lots of sleep, joy at each phone call and doorbell ring
even though he was dying
Children in Germany, London, and near Canada
Children in Houston, Maryland, and Texas
All either called or kissed him
because their father lay dying
Son-in-laws came to visit
Shook his hand and said hi
Seemed to find it hard to sit and watch
Grandpa because he was dying
Grandma was busy, oh so busy
Sweeping, dusting, straightening,
Glad for so much company
even though Grandpa was dying
Prayers, visits, songs,
Scriptures, words of encouragement
Food, hot tea, hugs, kisses
So much activity as Grandpa was dying
Great grandchildren came to see him again
Sang Sunday school songs for him to hear
Kissed him on his cheek multiple times
because their great grandfather was dying
Many times today I've hard him say things like...
"God is so good, life goes so fast
I'm so glad my children know the Lord"
even as he lay dying
It's 11:30 pm.
From across the room I watch a man I've always known
Earning each breath that he takes
because he is dying
He's a patriarch
He's a leader
He's a minister
He's an educator
He's a worshipper
He's a family man
He's a good man
He's a hard worker
He's an immigrant
He will be the first person I've known in my family tree to go to see Jesus
He's my Grandpa
5 comments:
It's a hard thing to lose someone you love, and who has impacted your life in the ways only they can... I know this is personal and intimate. If you or your family needs anything - at all, let me know. I don't think words help so much when what you feel is so unique to who you are, but I do know that the Lord is the best comforter around and it will be well when it's all said and done.
Let me know if you need anything and I'm praying for you guys... It's a true gift that you are able to celebrate his life and legacying instead of mourning it, as if he didn't know the Lord.
love you.Ro
Ohhh... Chrystal, I sit here with tears in my eyes after reading your last two entrees. I have been grieving my mother these last two weeks (leading up to Mother's Day) and I really needed these, especially the poem. God be with you and your family today. Soak it all up. Treed
Big Hugs
Im sori
my prayers are with you
Chrystal, this is absolutely beautiful. What a tribute. He sounds like an incredible man.
I am reading this... almost two years later. Started crying...
Thanks for writing this Chrystal.
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