Grandparents and the Multigenerational Family

multigenerational family 

My close friend Larry and I were talking this morning over breakfast at Denny's about our respective roles as grandfathers. I shared a little story about my paternal Grandpa who died when I was a little boy of seven. I told Larry that I've searched my memory and can remember nothing specific about Grandpa Henry whose first name is my middle name. We lived on the same farm in southern Minnesota. Grandma and Grandpa lived in the big house and Daddy, Momma, my sister Elaine and I lived in a house on the other side of a grove of trees and down the road a bit.

When I said I remember nothing specific about Grandpa Henry that's not quite true. He worked hard on the farm and was very serious about going to church and reading the Bible. There is one memory that sticks with me and has continued to influence me in many ways. It has to do with Grandpa's final days as he was dying of cancer in the summer of 1940, lying on a cot in the back porch of the big house.

Whenever I visited with Grandpa he usually talked with me about Jesus. He told me he wanted me to memorize a hymn with him. And so every time I came by he would get out his little black hymnal and read me a verse. Then we would say it together over and over. The hymn was Abide With Me. I never sing that hymn without remembering Grandpa Henry moving day by day toward his departure. And when I remember, a tear comes to my eye and a prayer to my heart, thanking Jesus for giving me this precious man.

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and abide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.