One of my favorite things about hymns is that sometimes when I sing them, I hear voices. I hear the voices of the faithful departed joining with me in praise to the King of Kings. The memories I have of singing particular hymns with certain loved ones sometimes hit me so strongly it's like they are right beside me in worship again. One such hymn that seems to trigger this is "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" I can rarely get through this one without hearing the voice of my Grandma K and there are many others. It isn't that she had some amazing singing gift, she didn't. No one was requesting her solos in church, she didn't even sing in the choir, and as she grew older it wavered and warbled the way voices often do, but she never hid her voice. I see myself much like her in that regard.
The other voice is more recent. Last night we had the annual Sunday School Christmas Service at church. As you might expect, the service was full of beloved Christmas Hymns. These hymns now carry the voice of my mother-in-law, Gloria. Maybe it was because I had the most opportunities to sing with her at Christmas time, but I heard her harmonies alongside the congregation's melodies as we sang, "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," "Angels We Have Heard on High," "Silent Night," and "Joy to the World."
I truly believe these memories are a precious gift. Often they make me smile. This year they make my heart ache and the tears flow freely. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
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