Today’s post was written by Paul.
“Amazing Grace” is arguably the greatest hymn of all time, written in 1772 by John Newton, who had previously led a very sinful life.
Throughout the world, it is one of the most well known songs of the English Language. At almost every funeral that I’ve ever attended, it was the last song played or sung as the congregation and casket made their way to the graveside. I think that’s simply because, no matter who you are, it’s through God’s Grace that we have hope beyond the grave.
At Pap’s funeral, there were military honors, carried out by the VFW and the Marine Corp League, with help from a Navy Veteran who played Taps so beautifully on his bugle. Just before the Robbinsville Quartet sang, the bugler also played “Because He Lives.” At the first few notes of that song, I started to cry, but Granny said quietly to me, “No, don’t cry,” and I immediately stopped. I wasn’t crying because I was sad for Pap nor because I was sad for us. I started to cry because the music was just so moving. Though it was an instrumental, in that moment, I was pondering the great truth of the lyrics to that song.
When we made our way from the church to the graveside, we walked behind an older gentleman who played Amazing Grace beautifully on bagpipes. The walk to the graveside was about 150 yards. Out in front, he walked as he played, holding each note very long and sustained, never breaking time. I am very grateful and thankful for the great respect that all those people showed for Pap that day. We did not ask for bagpipes to be played nor for any of those things to happen.
Pap left no will behind nor any specific guidelines for his service, but everything was well orchestrated, right down to the synchronized firing of M1 Garand Rifles, the rifles that Pap liked so very much. Two young soldiers expertly folded a flag and handed it to Granny, then a young man from the Marine Corps League gave her a contact card and told her that anytime she needed anything, she could reach out to them and they would help. I suspect that the Marine Corps League arranged for the bagpipe player, bugler, and everything else, but to this day, I don’t know for sure. Whoever the bagpipe player was, he also provided a brief moment of comic relief for us. As we walked behind him to the graveside, my brother Steve’s wife, Kim, asked me what I thought Pap would have thought about the bagpipe playing. I said that he would have absolutely loved it, though he might have thought the kilt was a little funny. We all laughed just a little, knowing how Pap felt about stuff like that.
Granny and I hope you enjoyed our version of Amazing Grace, a song that has means so much to so many people!
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
This whole story and music with Granny is so beautiful and touching.
You sound so good together! Beautiful.
I am glad you sang and recorded this beautiful hymn and your rendition. It blessed me and I pray you both are blessed. Thank you for sharing this wonderful moment!
She sounds like a young girl!
Beautiful.
Lovely memory and a very moving performance. The harmony is perfect. Granny and her flowers are so beautiful. I, too, love Amazing Grace on the bagpipes, and the story of that tribute at Pap’s funeral will be in my mind whenever I hear it again.
Paul, I think the story you shared from the day you all put Pap to rest was very heartfelt. I can just imagine seeing Granny leaning close to you telling you not to cry. I’m sure it was because she knew Pap wouldn’t want it. Little did she know at that time your tears were because of your gratefulness to God for His amazing grace. The amazing grace through Jesus who was the living sacrifice for our sins and God’s promise of eternal life after death. It’s okay if people cry over their loved ones who have passed on, because scripture reminds us in John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”, which took place after his friend Lazarus’ death. John tells us that after Jesus saw Lazarus’ sister Mary and other Jews crying that “…he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.” John 11:33 (ESV). Jesus has great compassion for all hearts that are broken, troubled, hurt, grieve, lonely or are overwhelmed for any reason. Jesus offers us all God’s amazing power for healing all matters of the heart. One just simply needs to call upon the name of Jesus to accept, believe and commit their life to Him. Praying daily and reading God’s Holy Bible, their hearts will be directed by the Holy Spirit to grow closer to God.
Paul, I realize you and your family have this faith knowing God’s grace. My heart felt lead to explain it for others who might read this comment that do not fully understand the grace of God through His Son Jesus the Christ, our Lord.
You and Granny had perfect harmony in singing together. I enjoyed hearing the beauty of the song’s message and the God given talents you are both blessed with.
I loved the video when Paul put it out on YouTube. Love hearing Paul sing and love his current series.
Granny and Paul that was just Lovely. Paul, I enjoyed reading your post today. Amazing Grace has always been a favorite hymn of all time. Granny I love the picture of you holding the crochet flower basket. Thank you, Paul and God bless, you both.
This song makes me cry almost everytime. So beautiful and meaningful.
That was a very moving rendition of Amazing Grace, sung by two very talented people! The love your family gives to each other and all your fans is so evident, Tipper! I keep you all in my nightly prayers and ask special blessings on Granny! May God bless all your family members and devoted fans!
She is so beautiful
Lovely. Thank you.
What beautiful harmony between 2 beautiful, talented, amazing people. Prayers for Granny are sent up daily.
PS. Today I’m turning another year older. I am 78 years old and thank God for each and every day of those years. Not all easy, not all that bad and grateful for having The Lord by my side to lead me through each one.
Happy Birthday! As long as we keep getting older each year we’re are ok. My Daddy liked to say if he ever stopped getting older or making mistakes he was in deep trouble.
Jennifer Lee-Happy Birthday!!! Hope you have a great day 🙂
Happy Birthday Jennifer!!!
Thank you for this precious moment of a sweet hymn and a beautiful rendition of it. Your “Pap” would have been very pleased for his darling wife and loyal son to have paid such a tribute for him and honor to his life. Thank you Miss Tipper for taking us along on that day of his funeral. I too felt like I was there. God bless everyone today, tomorrow and always.
I love this song so much…Paul and Granny made it extra special this morning. Beautiful.
Just beautiful.
Tipper–This post, beyond being enthralling, resurrects so many memories. Strongest among them, without question, is Paul and Jerry (Pap) singing at Daddy’s funeral service. Caught up in the emotion of the moment, I don’t remember any of the songs but I’m sure one of them would have been “In the Garden.” It was a favorite of Daddy’s. Another thing your post evoked was a whole range of emotions associated with bagpipes. To me, there’s nothing quite so moving, haunting, or soul seizing as the shrill skirl of bagpipes. It’s the essence of the “high lonesome” sound associated with so much of the music of our beloved mountains. I once lived in Edinburgh, Scotland for a number of months while holding a fellowship at the University, and most any weekend you could go to the Princess Street Gardens there and hear wonderful piping. As for the humor, tradition has it that men wear nothing beneath the kilt, and I reckon a strong gust of wind like we have here right now might produce quite a sight!
I would add that obviously much of Jerry’s service was etched in your mind as deeply as the words on his gravestone.
Beautiful. Always enjoy Paul and Granny.
Well written, Paul, and the harmony was perfect. Paul’s account of the military honors for Pap brought to mind a funeral for a relative who was a navy veteran. At one point, the officer in charge of the funeral detachment called the deceased’s name, as in a typical roll call. When he called the name a second time, a bit louder, an answer came: “Sir, Chief Walter Floyd has been promoted to supreme headquarters.” That’s when I lost it. I had never heard it done that way and haven’t since.
“I started to cry because the music was so moving.” Those of us with tears in our eyes know what you mean.
Thanks for this post. My Dad was a Marine and the high school ROTC unit did the honors at the cemetery. Way over, out of sight, the bugler played “Taps”. But I had never heard of the Marine Corp League. As to ” Amazing Grace” it seems to fit all cultures, all denominations, all experiences, all instruments, all time. Maybe that is because grace does. It just meets the human condition. Anybody ever notice how the song deftly turns the ‘mistake’ of 10,000 years into eternity by adding “we’ve no less days”? I’m so glad you all have the memories you describe. And bearing in mind other things posted through the years, I understand Granny saying, ” Don’t cry.” Makes me think.
Thank you for sharing the details of Pap’s funeral, a wonderful tribute. And thank you for sharing that beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace with us as well.
What a beautiful tribute to Pap. I felt like I was right there with y’all when you laid him to rest. I know he loved hearing you sing Amazing Grace this morning. Thank you for a wonderful way to start the day.
i love hearing Granny sing.
Amazing…started my day right and tears to my eyes.
We sang “Amazing Grace” at my dad’s funeral in 2000, and I made it thru the song without breaking down and crying. It was one of his favorites and mine too. Paul and Granny sang it so well, I had tears in my eyes.
Beautiful.
Granny is precious. I think for Christians this song says it all.
Beautiful lady with a pretty pot of flowers. I am sure she made the sweater also. So talented in her crocheting and singing.
Love Amazing Grace and thank God for my salvation.
Just reading this brought tears, almost like I was there. It was so honorable for your dad.
Same here.
What a beautiful description of Pap’s funeral. I felt like I was there in my mind. He seems like such a well respected man. This reminds me of my grandfather’s military funeral. My cousin played taps on a trumpet starting at the far side of the cemetery and slowly approached the grave as he played.
Granny’s singing is beautiful as always and so is she.
I don’t think we can put in signs and symbols here, but today I salute pap, God comfort thee, in Jesus name