"How Great Thou Art" is probably my very favorite hymn. My first memory of that song was when I was six years old and it was played at my uncle's (who was more of a grandfather to me) funeral. The song always brings tears to my eyes. For years the tears were for my uncle but as I grew in my relationship with God the tears became tears of gratitude.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins. And three days later He rose from the dead. For us personally, this means we are made right with God. It means we are freed from the burden of trying to be good enough in God's eyes. It means a transformed life. It means not being burdened by our past, our regrets, our failures. By what Jesus did, we are transformed from sinner to saint. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus told us that the only way to the Father (to Heaven) is through Jesus. John 14: 6, "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
My gratefulness is why tears come so easy for this song but there is one part that almost brings me to my knees. "When Christ shall come, With shouts of acclamation, And take me home, What joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow In humble adoration And there proclaim, 'My God, how great Thou art!'" The joy I have in knowing Who and Whose I am. As much as I love my family I do believe that when I am in God's presence, I will not miss them because I know I will see them again. Time will not be a thing. Honestly, I believe God is all that will matter. . I can have peace when my loved ones go home knowing that their hearts will be filled with joy and I can picture them (past and present) bowing in humble adoration!