A Letter to My Grandfather

Dear Grandfather whom I never knew,

Let me write a letter to you.

Like Abram seeking the promised land

You trusted that God had in all in hand

When you left your native shore

Looking for land where there was more,

More than enough for your many sons

To live and grow and be the ones

To feed the people with milk and cream.

You bought a farm beside a stream

And there your family lived and grew

All becoming a credit to you.

Sundays were spent in needful work

And always you drove your family to kirk.

When the preacher was found in conduct sinister

You answered “but I don’t worship the minister!”

Your faith was lived in word and deed—

Food freely given to those in need,

And many a swagman who came to you door

Was given a bed on the hayshed floor.

A crippled son returned to your aid—

His wife was paid as a dairy maid.

His family lived with you again.

An orphaned baby was welcomed in.

In all this you were helped by your loyal wife

 Who shared your faith, your view of life.

She laughed and toiled by your side,

Many years since she became your bride.

And so I thank the God above

For I am wrapped around with love.

Your family became my uncles and aunts

Who loved me dearly and I can’t

Begin to imagine how much I owe,

As onward day by day I go,

To the grace of one I never knew.

I write to send my thanks to you.