Tuesday's Tune ~ When I Get Where I'm Going

Losing a family member is one of the most difficult experiences we will ever face.  Whether it be a spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, great grandparent, uncle or aunt, the loss of someone who has been an important part of our lives is heartbreaking.

Henrietta D. Smith, 1836-1917

I often experience feelings of loss when I think about my ancestors.  Its not the same feelings of loss as I mentioned above.  But its still a loss.

A loss of never knowing who they really were and how they lived their day to day lives.  Never having the opportunity to sit in rocking chairs on their front porches while listening to them tell their stories.

Unable to ask them questions, join in their laughter, share their tears.  Never having the chance to hug their necks and tell them I love them. 


When researching our family histories, we gather information, documents and photographs of those who lived and died before we were born.

A small number of researchers are extremely fortunate to have a relative or friend still living who can relay firsthand (or secondhand) information.  Other researchers are given the gifts of letters, journals and maybe even recordings left behind by family members.

These conversations and gifts allow us to catch glimpses into the lives of our ancestors. 

I love to catch the glimpses!  However, these glimpses usually prompt more questions.  Some of my questions are answered by digging deeper into records research or collaborating with other family members and researchers.  Others?  Well, those answers will have to wait until I get where I'm going.

"When I Get Where I'm Going" was written by George Teren and Rivers Rutherford.  It was recorded by country music singer, Brad Paisley, and released in October of 2005.

Lyrics:

When I get where I'm going

On the far side of the sky

The first thing that I'm gonna do

Is spread my wings and fly

I'm gonna land beside a lion

And run my fingers through his mane

Or I might find out what it's like 

To ride of drop of rain

Yeah when I get where I'm going

There'll be only happy tears

I will shed the sins and struggles

I have carried all these years

And I'll leave my heart wide open 

I will love and have no fear

Yeah when I get where I'm going

Don't cry for me down here

I'm gonna walk with my granddaddy

And he'll match me step for step

And I'll tell him how I missed him

Every minute since he left

Then I'll hug his neck

So much pain and so much darkness

In this world we stumble through

All these questions I can't answer

So much work to do

But when I get where I'm going

And I see my maker's face

I'll stand forever in the light

Of his amazing grace

Yeah when I get where I'm going

There'll be only happy tears

Hallelujah

I will love and have no fear

When I get where I'm going

Yeah when I get where I' going