He Lingers In My Heart

Although he is now gone,
He lingers in my heart
As I recall the memories
Which never will depart

The hat he always wore
It perched upon his head
The smile I always got
The kind words that he said

The house they used to live in
The cheerful carpet, green
The way he acted in his life
I never saw him mean

The time he told the story
Of the accident he’d had
And how the tears fell down his face
As he said “Obey your mom and dad”

So many reunions and parties
Spread across the years
The memories I hold in my heart
Will help to keep him near

The time he gave the blessing
And how his old hands shook
As they sat upon my head
And he read me like a book

The counsel that he gave me
To use throughout my life
The way he treated his family
And especially his wife

The way he kept that love strong
And didn’t let it die
And how I knew that one day
I’d want to find that type of guy

His skills with a crochet hook
The beauty that he made
His love for the true gospel
That never seemed to fade

The way he hardly complained
No matter how hard the day
His example of hard work
To be worthy of the pay

So many other things he taught
By his every word and deed
How living a life with values
Was his daily creed

His belief in the Savior
The service he has given
Leaves me with no doubt
That Grandpa is now in heaven

I’ve no doubt that I’ll miss him
My heart now has a hole
But I also know I’ll see him again
For heaven is my goal

I know that day will come
When I’ll gaze upon his face
The love we shared a lasting bond
In that eternal place

For now I’ve said my farewell
And I’ll hold him in my heart
Until we are together
Where goodbye plays no part

Source: I wrote this the morning my Great Grandpa Bott passed away soon after we heard that he had.