As soon as my foot was released from its hard cast prison after 5 weeks…I progressed to an air cast. Told to wear it all the time, except to take a bath, I took that to mean that big ole bathtub in the backyard would be fine, as well. And, first thing Tuesday morning, I donned my swim suit and carefully waded into the pool. Soon I was joined by the two cutest little boys in town, along with their mother and aunt. Oh, we had such a great time! Following are some pics from the day.
Loving my new camera!
It make pics underwater! And, it will not break if you drop it! Camera heaven! Everyone has had a ball using my camera to make these great pics in the pool. Today is the first day that I got to use it. However, these underwater pics are courtesy of Suzanne…I have to practice a little more! It probably would help if I could open my eyes underwater! 🙂
LAGUNA BEACH…July 2-3,2014
Oh what fun Don and I had with Suzanne and Adam and Levi for 2 days…We crammed as much in as possible!
Sweet Levi is not a fan of the ocean. He likes to run in the sand, and pick up shells, but does not want to touch the water. However, he loves to swim. A friend had told us about a wonderful public water park here in PCB. It is the Frank Brown Recreational Complex on Back Beach Road…just past the ‘Y'” going toward PCB. There is a website you can go to learn more info. It is a fantastic park. Plenty of playground equipment, picnic tables, fishing, and 2 wonderful pools. One is dedicated for children, but parents are welcome to go in with their little ones…there are all sorts of climbing equipment and sprinklers and slides. Such fun. And very well kept up. $8.00 adults…$5.00 kids.
LAGUNA BEACH/ PANAMA CITY BEACH…..July 11-14, 2014
Joy and I, along with Tara and Lori and John Thomas took a long week-end trip to the Sandcastle. We all needed a little break from ‘real life’…and the beach seemed to be just what we needed. We ate out and slept in.
John Thomas and Tara and Lori took in Shipwreck Island, and Wonder Works…while Joy and I took our time on the couch and the front porch! To each his own! They all managed a trek down to the beach and some swimming in the ocean…my foot said,” Stay right where you are…on solid ground!” And, so I did!
John Thomas and I did a little painting. He painted a ‘goldie fish’ to grace the walls of the SandCastle.
Suzanne and Adam and Levi joined us for the day on Monday. We all headed back over to the Recreational Complex I mentioned above and had a wonderful day, playing and eating and swimming…with lots of fun and laughter!
DOTHAN…7/16/14
Today Levi stayed with Don and I for the day while his parents were busy. First Pa cooked Levi his favorite, ‘baconeggs’…and then they went to ride the toys. Finally, a little newspaper reading was in order while they cooled off!
Then I managed to snap some good close-ups of the little man while we played outside waiting for Suzanne to come!
JULY 21-24, 2014
Officially, this isn’t on my list, because I was not there. But, family was. And, since this is my blog, I get to make the rules! Love how that works out! Anyway, Jackson and Tina were able to spend a few days at the Sand Castle. Word from them was a great time was had, even amidst the rain. There was still swimming and fun to be had. And, fried crab claws, too! I only wish i could have spent some of the time with them. They are so dear to me!
July 29, 2014
Today Suzanne started back to school…crazy, huh? So I’m back to Levi and Lulu time! It has been such a fun day. But, boy is our schedule ever off! We’ve got some work to do to get back in our groove! Don is out of town, so Levi said he could not eat ‘baconeggs’…so we had bananas, toast and blackberries. He was too excited to eat, I think. Cause he knew what I had promised him we would do when he came to stay again. Paint! He had seen my paints out and had been wanting to paint and I kept putting him off…but today was the day! First, he donned his new painting apron. Look! He wrote his own name!
We started with the watercolors. He did well for the first time. It’s not easy to remember to dip the brush into water between each color…but he finally got it.
I title the above finished painting…”Just A Little Brown”. ( The bottom pic in photo below). After he had finished painting such a pretty mix of blues and greens, he looked at it and said, “Gotta put some brown right here.” And, so he did. Wonder what that thought process was. Maybe he just has an artist’s eye!
His second attempt turned out beautifully, I think. I think it looks like wet cupcake sprinkles! Don’t you just love how the colors blend in together…no matter what color is used? Next we moved on to fingerpaint. He was not quite as sure about this. After he realized it was just fine to get paint all over his hands, he began to enjoy it. We eventually moved it to the floor. And decided the best picture of all was Lulu and Levi’s hand prints all over an old towel!
We decided then that the best way to celebrate our art was with a swim! And even Uncle Alex and Finn joined us for a while! Such a beautiful day to be in this glorious world created by the Master Designer! After all that and a quick lunch, I was ready to rest. I was just happy to put my feet up! Well…at least this little man got some dream time in.
And so ends our short journey through the month of July, 2014. Could life be any sweeter? God is just so good and gracious to our family. All is not roses and candlelight…and we go through our tough times. Things happen that we want to run from. We are affected by circumstances that we have no control over. We still deal with illness on a daily basis. But through it all…God brings the joy! We are not thankful FOR all things we go through…but we are thankful IN all things. Because the only way you get to appreciate the joy…is to taste some of the bitter. The promises of God are always true and always steadfast. He will never fail. Thank you God, for allowing me to know this in my heart of hearts!
“You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the lands which you shall possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33
Pop was born with a sense of adventure and growing up in a family of 6 brothers and 1 sister, he learned to fend for himself early on. Even though he didn’t always use the best judgement, he always went, with gusto, into the task at hand.
Having a love of motorcycles, he seized the opportunity to buy a motorcycle dealership when he was very young. And, his love for motorcycles and the open road have filled his soul all his life. He set about to make his dream of seeing the world come true…just he and his motorcycle…and lots of faith in God.
His first trips took him north through the Unites States and Canada on the AlCan Highway, to Fairbanks, Alaska. One hundred miles north of Fairbanks is Circle, Alaska…the northernmost point of the Northern America Highway System…The End of the Road. Heading southward, he arrived at the End of the Road once more…40 miles above the Panama Canal.
After he was satisfied that he had seen the End of the road…he set his sights away from the USA and into 15 foreign countries. If he could ride his motorcycle there from Dothan, AL, he did. But, if not, he shipped it in and then picked it up and rode throughout the countries. Many times, he would exit the country the way he came in…and leave the missionary with a newfound and reliable method of transpiration. Kenya, Tanzania, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Guatemala, Honduras are just some of the countries he spent time in. Not speaking Spanish, he quickly learned the most important words to safely navigate his way. A place to sleep, a place to eat, and a safe place for his machine. Many nights he kept it in his motel room with him ! He made a total of 7 trips, 5 solo and 2 with a buddy. Most lasted for 2-3 months. And on every trip, he wore boots….these boots to be exact…
These boots were made for riding…and hiking through jungles…and catching alligators in the Amazon River. They were made for wearing while missionaries homes were tinkered with by the ‘missionary man’ from Dothan, AL. He calls himself ‘the missionary to the missionaries’. Always traveling at his own expense and providing his own tools and work gear, he left tiny snatches of his heart throughout South and Central America, and parts of Africa. His work over the years included building radio stations, churches, helping visiting medical teams, traveling with the missionary on the field to remote villages to check on new churches, pray with them and encourage the ‘brothers’. He fixed cabinet doors in missionary residences, repaired washing machines so they wouldn’t scoot across the floor, and built rabbit hutches for a young missionary kid. He patched roofs and fixed doors so they would swing freely. He went to be a friend to those who were called to serve. He befriended missionary kids and made lifelong friends.
[Missionary Dick Greenwood center back in brown jacket…Pop in front gifting this church with a generator…]
These years were full of close calls, brushes with near death, and an angel visitation. But, for a man who felt a calling on his life…he viewed it as one big adventure. My Mom supported his trips and we daughters were in awe of the man who would pack a few bags of supplies on the back of his Honda, tie them down with several bungee cords and take off for parts unknown.
Some called it folly, others a great witness and testimony. But, he calls it “just one little man doing his little part in the great big world.” There are missionaries all over who know today that they were cared for and loved and respected by him and his family. If they had a need and it was in his power, he met it. God’s grace and protection abounded everywhere he went…and the stories he can still tell could fill a book…which I hope to write one day.
This is my Daddy…my Pop… and if you want to know more…just ask him. But, you better be prepared to sit for a mighty long spell! They are as fresh and alive in his 88 year old mind as they were when they happened!
Happy Birthday, Pop! You make me proud!
[The pictures of Pop’s boots were done by Adam as a gift for Pop. They are absolutely beautiful, printed on metallic paper …the copies here do not do them justice.]
We continue to work with Little Levi on his speech. We have learned so much about ‘Childhood Apraxia ofSpeech”, and one of these is that music is especially hard for a child with Apraxia. The rhythm that carries the song along does not allow for stops and starts between the words in which to get ready for the next word. It has thrilled us that Levi loves listening to music. And we have begun to notice that he is able to throw in certain words in the right places and he can definitely get the last word in at the proper time! We have played music for him since he was a newborn. All kinds of music…kids songs, praise and worship, classical, rock and roll, folk, oldies…whatever is handy. ( And, believe it or not, he asks me to play “the blue song” for him some mornings. He is refering to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Because there are no words, it is easy for him to ‘feel’ the sweet violin or the pounding drums or the tinkling piano. He and I are quite good at conducting this piece. 🙂 He will go and play with his cars and then come back to me when he hears a part that particularly interests him.) He hears music in his Sunday School class and his favorite there is This Little Light of Mine! He and his Mom are learning the ABC song…and he can get all the way through it with just a couple of prompts! He also can sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. He and I have our own special song. I have sung to him, since he was an infant, the song ‘I Love You ABushel and A Peck’. Now, we sing it together, complete with motions. We also have some silly, nonsense songs that I have made up that we sing over and over and over. His favorite: The Breakfast Song: “Cows make milk. Chickens make eggs. Pigs make bacon. And Levi makes it GONE!” This is such a sweet, sweet time for us. I love sharing music with him.
So, therefore, I have been thinking a lot about the benefits of music for thevery young. We who were fortunate to be exposed to music in early life have surely reaped the benefits. We learn so much when we listen to music. Music inspires creative movement. It calms and helps us rest. It teaches listening skills. Through music children can learn about patterns and movement, about ryhmes and new vocabulary. Music is a language. It helps develop memory, and we know that music is involved in the expression of feelings. And, these early musical experiences are filtered through all the other learning that is going on at that time a child’s development.
Have you ever wondered why you get a portion of a song stuck in your head for days on end, but never sentences from a magazine or a conversation from a movie you just watched? That’s because music stimulates memory like nothing else. Remember how when we were a kids, we were taught all kinds of songs and tunes to help us remember stuff? The alphabet song, the planets’ order in the solar system, the correct colors of the rainbow? Music is a powerful memory trigger, making it one of the best learning tools there is.
When we think about the things we know about music and how young children and even older children learn, it makes sense that these words and music learned at this early age set up in a part of our brains that hold on to them and keep them there until they need to be recalled. (This works even with teenagers, as you’ll see in a later paragraph).
I don’t remember a lot of details about early music experiences that I had, but those I do remember come from church. That is where I remember singing “Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam” too many years ago to say…but definitely in my preschool years. This was in a little country church, Memphis Baptist, a few miles outside of Dothan. (Lest I sound condescending, it is now a much larger congregation, and certainly would not be called a’ little country church’ these days!) My grade school years were here, too. At that time there was a basement under the sanctuary and that is where the choirs met. I recall many songs from that time in my life…”He Owns the Cattle On A Thousand Hills“…”Do Lord“, “Gone, Gone, Gone, Gone” “Every Day With Jesus”, (the fun version)…I could go on and on if I let my mind wander a while. (Which is dangerous because it doesn’t always like to come back!) I can even see the front of the book we sang from and see those shaped notes on the page! It is here, I’m sure, that I first heard the wonderful old hymns for the first time. And, it was here that their words and messages began to set up residence in my brain.
It’s amazing to me how I can not have heard a song in years, but when I hear the melody, or hear someone say the title or a phrase from the hymn…I can almost recall the words verbatim! I listen to a lot of oldies music from the 50’s and 60’s and a lot of singer/songwriter type music. So often I can tell you where I was and what I was doing at the time. Bet you can do this too! And, these songs, too, have me singing along easily because I remember all the words!
[This is not a piece about popular music of today….but, I’d like to go on the record as saying I despise rap and hip hop music. I detest any song I can not easily hear and understand the words. And, I abhor the music where it sounds as if one is having and extremely personal experience which should not be broadcast to the world! That is all. I could easily give you a nice list to stay away from if you would like, but no…you can figure it out. All that being said, there are some nice singer/songwriter type artists out now that do a fine job. Now. Really. That is all]
My parents were avid church goers and believed that you support what goes on at your church…everything that goes on at your church! So we were there Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and any other time they thought there may be a function that could remotely involve us in some way! I’m not complaining…my friends were at church, people there loved and cared for me, I was happy while I was there… I loved going to church! As a member of a Baptist church, there was always music…you could not have a service of any kind without starting with a song or two and maybe a special solo, duet or trio by the singers in the group. So, I heard these hymns over and over and over and over and they became ingrained in the furrows of my brain. And, that is a good thing. I can still recall ‘specials’ that my Mom would sing and many of the words because she would practice so much at home. Joy and I could have joined in and made it a trio!
I find myself in Hobby Lobby (a Christian company, by the way), quite often, as it is one of my favorite places to shop. They always have Christian music playing softly in the background…just instrumental. Several time I have caught myself actually singing the words out loud! And, it totally catches me by surprise. Because I am usually so caught up in my shopping, that I don’t really notice that there is even music of any kind playing. It’s as if my ‘spirit’ recognizes the music and sings out with what it hears. As it is always praise and worship music…I like to think my ‘spirit just connects itself to the music because it is so familiar, even if I am not consciously thinking about it. Does anything I said in this paragraph even make sense? I just don’t quite have the words to express what I think about this. But, it is something that makes me very happy.
Whenever Joy and I are together on a trip, we always end up singing as we drive. Well, we don’t do it so much anymore…because one or more of our children would probably have their eyes roll completely out of their heads if we sang like we wanted to! Anyway, we had a lady who taught our Youth choir at Southside during a time when we were without a music minister. Her name was Eunice Williams. Now, she and her husband, Robert, and our parents and the Peacocks were very close friends. So close, that there were no Mrs. or Mr. with these adults…they were our aunts and uncles! Anyway, Aunt Eunice was also our church organist as well as my piano teacher. Well, she stepped into the void when we were without a music minister at church and had no leader for the youth choir. I can still remember the musical we did…and many of the songs. It was called ‘Come Alive‘. But, the song that Joy and I sing (and beautifully, I may add) is Christ is With Me All the Way. This was an anthem she taught us.
CHRIST IS WITH ME ALL THE WAY
Christ is with me all the way Christ is all the love I need, If I walk with Him each day. And His voice my heart will heed. Willing is He to share my load None just like Him ever be, As I dwell in this abode. He no stranger is to me. When I’m troubled, tempted, tried, But a trusted friend and true, Then my cares to Him, I confide. My help in all I try and do. And I hear His sweet voice say, Leading me in ways He trod, “Lo, I am with you alway.” Christ the Man and Christ the God.
Aren’t these just the most wonderful words for a teenage to learn and commit to memory? And, I guess the point I’m trying to make here, is that I didn’t TRY to commit it to memory. It happened naturally. As with all the hymns I sang in worship from the time I was a child…it was the repetition and the melody and the joy of the music that seared itself to my heart and soul. And, those songs are there and there they will stay. Ready to float to the top when I need encouragement, or comfort or maybe just looking for the words of praise that fit the situation.
Do you get the same feeling from all the music that comes from the big praise and worship sessions that most churches have gone to today? For me, the answer is no. I don’t get the same awe and reverence and joy from singing this music as I do the old hymns. Perhaps that has to do with the fact that I reside in my 60’s now. But, not really. I think young worshippers and new worshippers enjoy the newer music more. So, that is what is most familiar to them. I’m in no way saying that there is anything wrong with this music…in fact I really like some of it…but I do think for those of us who are used to worshipping in an old, traditional Baptist church….a mix is very nice. I find the newer songs to be very repetitive with tens of verses and hardly any melody to enjoy. But, again…that is just me! A church should have room for all those who wish to worship and all who do worship there should find it comfortable and uplifting. Give and take…a little of this and a little of that.
Well, I suppose, I have taken this subject of ‘hymns’ to as far a conclusion as I can. Perhaps you have gleaned a little information you may not have known. And, hopefully, I have added a little more of my own history to this blog to remind those who follow after me of how I felt about this beautiful music of God. Amen.
“I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be
My mom was wonderful. I loved her dearly. And, though she came from very humble beginnings….she grew into quite a proper lady. Oh she loved fine things and fancy things and right things. She was never uppity or anything like that, and she never would say something to embarrass you (on purpose). And, she never thought she was better than anyone else. She was most willing to serve whomever, whenever a need arose. She was instrumental in much of the missions history of our church. She truly lived her Christianity. And she loved to sing! She sang all the time. No matter what she was doing, you would hear her break out in song. She sang church music…hymns…and special songs.
But, it just bothered her when things were not done ‘correctly‘…meaning ‘in the way in which they should obviously (to anyone who knew anything) be done. She may not tell them they were doing it wrong, but you can be sure she told her 2 daughters…so we could be sure we got it right! And, once told, we were to do it correctly, too. Because she said so. And, she just so happened to be right! And, we were always most obedient daughters! 🙂
And one of those ‘things that bothered her’ was when some music minister/song leader/ music director/ department director in assembly time would say, “Turn to page 123 in your hymnal and let’s sing all 3 verses.” What bothered her about this simple statement was that it was incorrect. It would be correct to say, “Turn to hymn number 123 and let’s sing all 3 verses.” Because the page numbers were not what we were going by…we were going by the hymn number….who knows what the page number was…but I am sure as can be that it was NOT the same as the hymn number! See, even though most pages had only one number, on some pages there were two numbers and on some there may be 5! To reassure myself before I posted this and brought disgrace to the family name by being wrong, I checked in my old copy of The Baptist Hymnal. This hymnal was presented to me in 1964 (I was 11 years old).
As you can see, it says ‘Revival”, but we were not in the habit of presenting hymnals at revivals, as I recall. Perhaps I invited people to sing in the choir, or some such thing. I do remember that I took my own personal copy of The Baptist Hymnal, to church with me for a while…along with my Bible and offering envelope. Then Mama found out I was doing that and she said I was acting boastful and that was not why I was given it. So, I began to use it when I took piano lessons from Aunt Eunice. Truth be told, the only reason I even wanted to take piano lessons was to play hymns and play for church. I can still see Aunt Eunice Williams’ (my teacher and dear friend) handwriting all in this hymnal. Quite a treasure to me. (For those friends in SBC, the hymnal was also signed by Bill Buchanan and Rev. Sidney Sample.) I did end up playing some here and there at church as I got older …for Sunday nights and Wednesday nights…and for choirs and VBS, but the piano talent in our family was given to my sister, Joy. She is our church pianist at SBC and does such a beautiful job at it. I love hearing her play.
And, this is the honest truth, I promise you! I can remember my Pop leaning over to me when some song leader or music minister would get the hymn number thing right and saying ,”He knows how to do it right!” And I would “Shhh” him because he never learned to whisper….especially in church! And still can’t! 🙂
Another thing that bothered Mom was pronunciation. She was a stickler on that! As I look back on it now… this was such a big deal to her. In speaking and in singing. But, I remember it more in the singing because…well, I don’t really know why. It just made an impression on me as a child and I found myself stressing it to the children I’ve worked with in music through the years, and to my children. I can hear her voice in my memory, even now, and I know every word will be perfect!
A perfect example is Silent Night. It would ruffle her very last feather to hear someone sing “Si-lunt Night”…instead of “Si-lent Night”…pronouncing the short ‘e’, as it was meant to be. And really, if you see the word ‘lent’…you don’t pronounce it ‘lunt’. (Oh, you would never know she was displeased with your pronunciation…unless you were her daughter, or her husband..and perhaps her grandchildren…she held them to very high standards, as well. But,if I were sitting by her in church, I could almost feel her cringe…ever so slightly.) Same thing with ‘heaven’. It is hea-ven…as in been…..not hea-vun! Try ‘angel’…an-gel (gel)…not an-jul! “When we’ve been there ten thou-sand years”…not thou-sund.” And, I could go on, but I won’t because I think you get what I’m saying.
Way back when we used to sings only hymns in the Baptist church, there were certain rules to follow. This was way before we had the big screens at the front of the church with all the words on it. Back in the old days, we would use our hymnals for the words. If there were 4 verses in a song…we sang 1,2,and 4. (Or just 1 and 4 if the song service had run long or there was a testimony or something. You just didn’t cut in on the preacher’s time…he had to start by 11:30!) I don’t know why it was done that way…but it must have been a Southern Baptist Convention rule. Didn’t matter where you went to church, in town or out of town…that’s the way it was. I always wondered if the third verse just wasn’t as as good as the rest. But, why would it be in the song if it wasn’t? Now if there were three verses…we sang all 3. Or occasionally 1 and 3…for the same reason as above!
Then there were those few that were half page songs. We rarely sang those, though. They had the same amount of words, but by stacking them like they did, they could get two songs on one page. (There’s that rule…2 hymn numbers on 1 page!) I always felt like the printers of The Baptist Hymnal just threw those half page songs in as filler. That’s just some Tonja logic…not necessarily true!
None of the rules about verses held true when we had revival services, however. Because that music evangelist would make you sing every. single. verse. of every. single. song. And, some of them had 6 verses! Of course, we didn’t sing a lot of hymns in the revival services, because there was all the special music. He had to sing. And, he and his wife had to sing. And, if he had any children at all…regardless if they could sing or knew the words or could stand and hold the microphone…would sing, too. Then the choir would sing twice. That’s because he always met with them 30 minutes prior to the service to teach them their part. He had the solo, however. Either that or he had another solo after the choir finished and immediately prior to the sermon.
[I can remember some of the guest preachers or music evangelists showing up in big busses and they would live in the parking lot for the week. I have no room to judge anyone, as I’ve had a few ‘moments’ myself,…but some of these guys were st-raaaan-ge. They would show up in these flashy suits and poufed up hair…and that was back before men used styling products and hairspray! It was unheard of in our little town. There was even one who wore makeup…so I heard. I was just a child, so I can’t say for sure. However, I heard my Mom and some of the other ladies talking. Dothan was just not a ‘poufed up hair and man make up’ kinda town. I even remember whispers of talk about one of the men who wore a girdle! Times do have a way of changing, though, don’t they?]
Really, friends, it was hard to get all the music into a service because…even though we were used to having perfectly lovely instrumental music played while the offering was being taken up…there had to be some time allotted for the selling of tapes…and later CDs, of all their albums…and the very special Christmas album…and the children’s album! And, some of the evangelists had even felt called to branch out into books and t- shirts. Their spiel generally took the whole offering time. They would have one of everything up front with them and tell just a little bit about what made it special and what they were going through when they recorded it or wrote it, whichever the case may be. And, how, in his humble opinion, you needed to have this in your possession so that you could continue to worship at home or in the car. And, his wife would be in the vestibule after church. Cash or checks made payable to the church. I can remember being ready to make a bee line to my Pop to ask for $10.00 to get a cassette…or a T-shirt. And, he usually said “yes”. Well…he said “yes” if he liked the music, too. I got nothing from the guy who wore the make-up. But, strangely, I did manage to end up with a cassette from the guy who traveled in a bus with his wife and 3 or 4 children. They all lived and traveled together in that bus, too. That was the first time I had ever heard of homeschooling. The chlldren, as I remember, acted like little soldiers. Which may have been why I was allowed one of their cassettes!
Back then the music minister would stay up on the podium while the preacher preached. If it was especially hard hitting on a certain subject, you could see the music minister furiously flipping through the hymnal to find the appropriate song to use during the invitation. Of course, Amazing Grace was always the fall back song for the invitation time.
Is there any song, any where, that has touched as many people as this song? People everywhere, even non Christians, know at least a portion of it. Revival services tended to have fairly long invitation times, and it was during these invitations that I learned the words to all 4 verses printed in our hymnal at the time. I only found out later that there were 2 more verses. And, as I did some reading up on this song, I learned some interesting things about this hymn.
The tune to this song is a traditional melody…listed in our hymnal as ‘Early American Melody’. Actually it was the melody of a song that was sung by slaves as they sailed to America in the hold of a sailing ship. Turns out John Newton was a big time slave trader. During one of his voyages, he was in a terrible storm and cried out to God to save him. He promised God that he would serve Him, if He would save him. He lived, but, he did not stop his slave trading at once. He waited until he was forced to quit due to illness. It was much later in his life, after he had become a Methodist minister, that he penned these words. They were used as a chant in his services. Later his words and ‘Early American Melody’ came together to be sung today as one of the most beloved of all hymns. It is interesting to think of his life as you reread the words. Most accounts state that he wrote this as his own life history.
AMAZING GRACE
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound) That sav’d a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears reliev’d; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease; I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who call’d me here below, Will be forever mine.
According to Wikipedia, it was added in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe in her book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. A character in the book sang two of the original verses and she added this verse as the last. Isn’t that interesting? There is no mention of that in the hymnals. Don’t know if there is in any new printings of it in recent years.
Church was a very important part of my life growing up, as it is now. And, I’m sure some of the things I think happened one way could have just been the child in me…but these things I’ve written are all true in my heart and memory. Isn’t it strange, sometimes, the things that stay in our minds and make an impression on our hearts? I in no way am making fun of my church. I love that Southside Baptist Church has been a part of my life since I was 10 years old. The people in this church today, and those that have gone on to Glory, are the salt of the earth. Who I am today is due in part to the countless adults who felt called to pour their lives into children…rowdy, ungrateful, disrespectful children. But, the lessons took hold in so many of us who, like myself, have carried on the legacy that is a great church of God. We who were taught, then taught ourselves. We who were led, became leaders. And, we who were served, serve even still.
THIS VERSE OF SCRIPTURE IS ON THE PAGE PRIOR TO HYMN NUMBER ONE IN THE BAPTIST HYMNAL, 1956 EDITION…(whatever that page number may be…)
While doing some reading on the Internet, I ran across the title of an old hymn I remember singing…All the Way My Savior Leads Me. I stopped for a minute and closed my eyes. Yes, I remember that song. Immediately the phrase came to mind…“for I know what ‘ere befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.” Wow! I didn’t even rememberthat I remembered those words. But, there they were. I tried to think of the rest of the song. And, I could recall those sweet words…the whole first verse was as clear to me as if I sang it last Sunday. Which sadly, I didn’t. Next I googled the lyrics and as I read them, they were refreshed in my memory as well…all 3 verses….and I could recall all the words to the 3rd verse, as well, once I got a little push!
If you do not know of this old hymn, read these words below as a poem…they are beautiful…
(there is NO reason for the extra space between the first line and the rest of the lines…stupid computer won’t let me fix it, either)
All the Way My Savior Leads Me
Frances J. Crosby
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All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my Guide? Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well; For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
All the way my Savior leads me, Cheers each winding path I tread, Gives me grace for every trial, Feeds me with the living Bread. Though my weary steps may falter And my soul athirst may be, Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! A spring of joy I see; Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! A spring of joy I see.
All the way my Savior leads me, Oh, the fullness of His love! Perfect rest to me is promised In my Father’s house above. When my spirit, clothed immortal, Wings its flight to realms of day This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way; This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way.
(Copyright: Public Domain…..Scripture: Revelation 7:17…..Robert Lowry, pub.1875Copyright: Public Domain…..Key: G…..Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7.8.7.8.7)
Revelation 7:17 NKJV “…for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
OK, so the words are definitely not written in today’s English standard way of talking, but aren’t they powerful? I can attest to the validity of every sentence. I know this for sure, because I have lived these words without even knowing it.
God has always led me. I do not doubt His mercy, I have seen it over and over as He has guided my life. And, I have lived enough of the hard things in life to proclaim to you with full assurance…He does all things well. Every trial I have faced in life, He has given me the grace I needed to go through it. When my steps would get weary and I would be close to falling, suddenly…He swooped in with strength and joy. Never failed! It is amazing how you can be in the throes of a crisis…and feel His peace and comfort and actually ‘feel joy’, as He promised. Now I have not seen what lies ahead after this life. But, this I know for sure. He is there. And, He promises me that there is beauty and peace and joy and goodness and rest. I believe every word of it! I will testify as long as there is breath that He has led me. He has guided me. He has kept his promises. He is faithful! (With sincere apologies to Frances Crosby for paraphrasing the soaring words of her hymn to fit my feeble mind).
(The picture above of the page of music is from the hymnal I used when I was taking piano lessons. It was the same one we used at church. Still there, on the first few measures, are the notations she made to help me learn the correct rhythm. Thanks, Aunt Eunice! It makes me smile to see a sweet reminder of the wonderful lady she was!)
I am a Christian woman who has survived many years on the planet. God has blessed me with a wonderful family: husband, 3 sons, a dear DIL, and a precious grandson. I also have dear friends to keep me inspired. I am an artist of sorts and am finding my way through the great blessing of retirement. I recently retired after 20 years as a music teacher. Life is good!
My Boys
"All your sons will be taught by the Lord; and great will be their peace." Isaiah 54:13
Read their stories... Adam Alex Ian
Hello, my name is Everly. I am a blogger living in New York. This is my blog, where I post about interior design and decoration. Never miss out on new stuff.
He had seen my paints out and had been wanting to paint and I kept putting him off…but today was the day! First, he donned his new painting apron. Look! He wrote his own name!
Hello, my name is Everly. I am a blogger living in New York. This is my blog, where I post about interior design and decoration. Never miss out on new stuff.