In the Name of Amazing Grace

How sweet the sound, on a Sunday evening sitting in the middle of a church pew. Mr. Otis played the piano occasionally at church. He was a self taught musician, and never knew how to read music. Every time he played the song “Amazing Grace” it was a new and unique version. He would play and sing like a jazz musician in an old western saloon, but the words were always the same: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.” As he got older he would still play the piano with the same energy I remember from when I was little, but the age made it hard for him to sing past the first verse. It was okay though, cause the church would sing for him, and you could see the joy on his face. Mr. Otis was like a grandfather to my brothers and me. He even gave my family football tickets to a few University of Georgia Football games. He passed away last year, and when I hear the song played I smile and my eyes get a little watery. Mr. Otis was the embodiment of spreading love and joy in the name of amazing grace.