June 13

June 13, 2011~

The morning started out cloudy then progressed to light sunshine,  but off to the west the black clouds were coming! Yes, the rain hit before long, but the beautiful sunshine is back this evening and the song birds are singing beautiful songs. As it was raining, I thought about all the beauty around me.. I was in the green house  planting and got to thinking that we need the rain for our gardens to grow. It is not any different in our lives. We need the sunshine and the rain to grow into the person that God knows we can become.  It is during those rainy times that we do the most growing. Here is a story someone shared with me today about a time someone was going through one of the rainy times in life.

THE BIRTH OF THE HYMN  "PRECIOUS LORD"

 “Back in 1932, I was a fairly new husband.  My wife, Nettie, and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago 's south side.               

One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting.  I didn't want to go; Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child, but a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis .  I kissed Nettie goodbye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and, in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66.

However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case.  I wheeled around and headed back.

 I found Nettie sleeping peacefully.  I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay.  But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music.

 The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram.

I ripped open the envelope....

Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words:

YOUR WIFE JUST DIED.

People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out.

I rushed to a phone and called home.  All I could hear on the other end was "Nettie is dead.  Nettie is dead.'"

When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy.  I swung between grief and joy.  Yet that same night, the baby died.    I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket.  Then I fell apart. 

For days I closeted myself.  I felt that God had done me an injustice.  I didn't want to serve Him any more or write gospel songs.  I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. 

But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis . Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie.  Was that something God?  Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died.

 From that moment on, I vowed to listen more closely to Him.  But still I was lost in grief. Everyone was kind to me, especially one friend.

The following Saturday evening he took me up to Maloney's Poro College , a neighborhood music school.  It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows.

I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys.  Something happened to me then.  I felt at peace.   I felt as though I could reach out and touch God.

I found myself playing a melody.  Once in my head they just seemed to fall into place: 'Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.'

 The Lord gave me these words and melody.  He also healed my spirit.  I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power.

 And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.”

    - - -  -Tommy Dorsey

 For those too young to know who he is, Tommy Dorsey was a well-known band leader in the 1930's and 40's.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Lead Me On, Help Me Stand
I Am Tired, I Am Weak, I Am Worn
Thru The Storm, Thru The Night
Lead Me On To The Light
Take My Hand, Precious Lord
Lead Me Home

When My Way Grows Drear
Precious Lord, Linger Near
When My Life Is Almost Gone
Hear My Cry, Hear My Call
Hold my hand, Lest I Fall
Take My Hand, Precious Lord
Lead Me Home

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.     A lovely surprise….Ron called me outside this evening for no reason at all, so I thought, and to my surprise he’d weeded the area we are going to plant cucumbers! Not much left to do now except finish the planting and then watch everything grow!

2.     A God who can make a seed grow!

3.     The little things that Ron does for me every day!

4.     The gift of music.

5.     Inspiring stories.