Softly and Tenderly

An email I received this morning:

Dear Children,

Grandma Call passed away around 11 pm this evening, Sunday July 17th.  Mom received a telephone call about 2 hours ago informing her of her mother's condition and she immediately left for Logan and was able to get there about 10 minutes before she passed away.  Both of us were there this weekend, coming home just this morning... when we left we both commented that things looked pretty serious today.  Interestingly, July 17th is the same day my mother, Grandma Goldsberry, passed away 19 years ago.  It's been a reflective and sad day today!

We love you all!

Dad

Ninety four (almost 95) years of enduring to the end.  

That is impressive.

Beloved wife...

(1968)

Mother...

Grandmother...

(Grandpa and Grandma with Jill and Rob, 1966)

 (Grandma with Rob and Jill, 1970.  I'm wondering where I was too...  That red VW was our family car.)

(Both sets of Grandparents... BONUS!  I'm in the hip retro striped dress, 1971)

Great-Grandmother...

 (Grandma and my nephew Josh, 1989)

 (Grandma with me, Bill, Lexee, Taylor and Britta, 1995)

(Grandma with Shilo, 1997)

 (Grandma with Mauri, 2010)

And Great-Great Grandmother.  (Just not for our family yet.)

She has been an amazing example of faith, love, patience, and endurance.  We will miss her, and are so grateful for the time we've been privileged to spend with her.  (Last summer's reunion here.)

A few years back our ward choir sang a number called Softly and Tenderly.  A slow, beautiful arrangement by David R. Naylor of an old American folk hymn.  I love the message.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,

Calling for you and for me;

See on the portals He's waiting and watching,

Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home;

Ye who are weary, come home!

Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,

Calling, "Dear children, come home."

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading?

Pleading for you and for me.

Why should we linger and heed not His mercies?

Mercies for you and for me.

Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised!

Promised for you and for me!

Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,

Pardon for you and for me.

Come home, come home;

Ye who are weary, come home!

Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,

Calling, "Dear children, come home."

I am grateful for my knowledge of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the great heritage I have been blessed with.  A heritage of sacrifice, diligence, determination, and faith.

Families are forever.