The sweetness of memory

I am sometimes overwhelmed by the cares of the world. We live in dark days. The last thing I need to do when my own struggles are great is to add the world’s issues to the pile.

Old hymns, from my childhood, come to mind. One particular hymn is rolling around in my head today. I found this lovely version of it and thought I’d share.

What I truly wish I could share is the version that plays in my mind. The song sung by a congregation on a Sunday morning. My grandma humming softly and nodding. Her beautiful clear blue eyes looking down as she smiles with assurance of a person who has walked with God through her life. Just the other side of her is the voice of my grandpa, booming out the baseline; more oompaapaa than opera. But his voice has the strong confidence of singing what he believes.

This is the most beautiful version of this song. My heart warms as I play it over in my mind. Not only are the words a comfort, but so is the connection with a faith that goes back years into my history. The memory of these two people who changed my life and gave me a gift I can never repay. I count their memory among my greatest joys.

So today, let this song play in your mind. I am sure that you also have rich memories. Let these thoughts speak peace and joy into your life. Together we can remember that God is greater than all the trouble in the world.