Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Took His Breath Away

My Papaw took his first breath in the presence of King Jesus yesterday afternoon. 
I cannot begin to describe the mixed emotions that I am feeling at this moment.  A combination of deep sadness that I will no longer have my funny little Papaw here on this wicked earth with me and of great joy knowing that he is walking in a new body around in Glory.  I can only being to imagine what he is experiencing right now. 

There's a song that I've been practicing to sing at church.  It is called These Are They by the Gaither Vocal Band.  It talks of the Rapture when Jesus comes back for His church.   This song has been repeating in my head over and over as I find comfort in its words.  This is the lyrics and a video of the song:

These Are They
(by The Gaither Vocal Band)

The oceans give up of the dead that are in them
The graves open wide to set captives free
And those who are roaming the Earth rise to meet them
Abraham's seed as the sands of the sea

These are they who have come out of great tribulation
They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb
They have come through much sorrow into great jubilation
They're redeemed by the blood of the Lamb

And like a strong and mighty army their voices are ringing
Oh great cloud of witnesses they sing freedom's song
As they enter the country built by their own Father
The promised homeland they've looked for so long

And all the pilgrims and all the strangers they'll be no longer strangers
All the tired and the weary wanderers they'll wander no more
The table is spread for the Great Celebration
And the "Welcome Home" banner flies over the door

At the end of my accompaniment track, there are samples of other songs that I might want to try.  While listening to those for the first time yesterday afternoon (as I was driving like a mad woman to my Mamaw's side) I heard the chorus of Took His Breath Away by Three Bridges.  As the song played I was grinning from ear-to-ear and threw up my arms in victory because I have peace and comfort knowing that my Papaw is better off than I am right now. 


Took His Breath Away
(by Three Bridges)

Standing at the bedside of a loved one
Knowing that his life would soon be o’er
Holding calloused hands worn and weathered from his labor
But he’ll never have to work anymore
We stood and watched as pain racked his body
And questioned how could he keep holding on
Then his eyes opened wide, he saw the land of paradise
And his Savior said my child welcome home

When he saw Jesus, it took his breath away
For years he’d longed to see him and he finally did today
He saw loved ones who had gone before robed in white and saved by grace
But when his eyes met Jesus it took his breath away

For years he’d seen the beauty in a sunrise
And the brilliance of a rainbow-painted sky
He’d often stand and marvel at the splendor of creation
And a newborn baby always made him smile
But when he looked across old chilly Jordan
And he saw those pearly gates of Beulah land
Excitement filled his eyes then he saw Jesus on the other side
And that was more than his tired old heart could stand

When he saw Jesus, it took his breath away
For years he’d longed to see him and he finally did today
He saw loved ones who had gone before robed in white and saved by grace
But when his eyes met Jesus it took his breath away




(Check out this post or this post these posts to read more about Papaw.)

4 comments:

  1. Just wanted you to know I'm praying for you and your family...especially your grandma. I'm sorry for your loss.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous11:12 AM

    I love you D. I am praying that you can continue to take comfort from the Father and that we are all rejoicing in his arrival in Heaven!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so sorry Deidre! It is a blessing to know that you are ok because you know that he is in heaven. Praying for you during this time, I just went thru this, this fall. But I did not have that assurance of where my Grandfather went. That was the hardest part. But death is difficult and will hurt no matter what. Lots of love sent your way, praying for you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  4. what a beautiful post & the two songs are perfect. thinking of you & praying for you right now!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment!