Gather 'Round

Occasion: The death of Washington Preston Young...my grandpa, my namesake, and my hero, 1988.

At supper time and holidays,
Occasions of all kinds,
We gathered at our Grandpa’s house,
With happy hearts and minds.

Some sat beside the fire,
While others sat in chairs,
But all enjoyed each gathering,
Where we had no wants or cares.

We gathered ‘round the Bible,
To hear each wondrous story,
That Grandpa’s shaking voice would read,
While his spirit glowed with glory.

We gathered ‘round the pictures,
Of the clan in times gone past,
And smiles lit up every face,
While all day long we laughed.

Then we gathered round the mem’ries,
As he laid there in his bed,
And remembered how he’d shaped us,
And all the words he’d said.

Now we gather in our sorrow,
As we say our last fare-well,
To the greatest Grandpa ever made,
Who meant too much to tell.

And someday we will see him,
When through life we have trod,
And we’ll hug and kiss him once again,
Gathering ‘round the throne of God.