Dorothy Huffman

This past weekend was the memorial service for my Grandma Dot. It was at the West Hickory United Methodist Church, which was packed to standing room only. My dad gave a beautiful eulogy, sharing memories of my grandmother's love of music and of her family. Dad and my Aunt Beck sang two hymns that were my grandmother's favorites, How Great Thou Art and Just a Closer Walk with Thee.

It was so strange. She died on September 27th, and I was upset when mom called to tell me. But truthfully, I was also somewhat relieved, because I had seen her in the nursing home the previous Saturday, and she clearly wasn't doing well. She was suffering from terminal brain cancer. She wasn't going to be coming home again. I thought I had already accepted her death. But then at the memorial service when my Aunt Beck and Dad were singing, I could hear Grandma Dot's voice singing with them like it always did at family gatherings. She had such a big voice, and she always sang full out, without any fear of someone judging. I think that is what I will always remember most about her. And I just cried so much and so hard during those songs. It was like I had skipped a stage in the grieving process and had to go back. Some part of me recognized that I'd never hear her sing again, and it took that for me to realize she was really gone. I wanted to share this song with everyone. Even though I am no longer Christian, I found a great deal of comfort in it, along with finding my grief.

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.

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!


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.

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 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!"

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!


I also wanted to thank everyone who called or emailed to let me know they were thinking of me. I really appreciated it. Merry Part and Blessed Be, everyone.