Evangelism | Discipleship | Servanthood | Diversity
Loving Hymn
You may have missed the last time we had a hymn sing or have been unaware of the little drama going on in the back row. One of the church moms of a 10 year old boy was fuming mad. I didn’t catch what the infraction was, but the boy did something that got him in big trouble that morning; getting yelled at in the car all the way to church and lasting into the service. Mom was whispering a scolding to the boy even as we were calling out the hymns to sing.
The boy, one of our bright kids in church school, just looked down into the hymnal taking it like a man; or so she thought. During a break in the tongue lashing, he turned and quietly said, “188”. “What?” his mom asked. “188”, he said pointing to the hymnal. In a huff, she turned to that page and read, “Fret Not for Those Who Do Wrong Things.” She whispered that he wasn’t going to get off that easily and that she was still mad at him. At the next break in the music, he said, “401.” She turned and saw it said, “When Will People Cease Their Fighting?” “Not funny”, she said. “No son of mine is going to get away with this kind of behavior.” A moment later he said, “86.” She turned and read, “When We Are Tempted to Deny Your Son”. Finally the tiniest of smiles broke out from behind her stern façade. She put her hand on his shoulder and pulled him close. One last time he looked through the pages of the hymnal and shouted his request for all to hear and said, “#239”. We all turned to that page in the hymnal and sang, “How Happy Is Each Child of God.” Now if you think that’s a preachers’ story, then #194. (Peoples, Clap Your Hands).
The boy, one of our bright kids in church school, just looked down into the hymnal taking it like a man; or so she thought. During a break in the tongue lashing, he turned and quietly said, “188”. “What?” his mom asked. “188”, he said pointing to the hymnal. In a huff, she turned to that page and read, “Fret Not for Those Who Do Wrong Things.” She whispered that he wasn’t going to get off that easily and that she was still mad at him. At the next break in the music, he said, “401.” She turned and saw it said, “When Will People Cease Their Fighting?” “Not funny”, she said. “No son of mine is going to get away with this kind of behavior.” A moment later he said, “86.” She turned and read, “When We Are Tempted to Deny Your Son”. Finally the tiniest of smiles broke out from behind her stern façade. She put her hand on his shoulder and pulled him close. One last time he looked through the pages of the hymnal and shouted his request for all to hear and said, “#239”. We all turned to that page in the hymnal and sang, “How Happy Is Each Child of God.” Now if you think that’s a preachers’ story, then #194. (Peoples, Clap Your Hands).
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