January 20, 2024 - "Let Me Be Singing"

      This afternoon Teresa and I went to the hospital to see Jodie.  All indications are that this could be the last time that we would see him in this world.  None of us know when, but God alone.
      Joyce has shared that the last couple of days that Jodie has been listening to music and singing.  He’d sing even without music playing.  That was the case when he saw him.
      Jodie was singing.  We had no clue the song, but it was obvious that he was singing.  I turned to Teresa and Joyce and said, “Let me be singing when I am leaving this world.”  I hope that is the case when my time comes.
      The three of us sang “Victory in Jesus” while holding his hand.
      As we were walking down the hallway to the elevator I thought about a line from a song.   Just a line, not the rest of the song.
 
“Let me be singing when the evening comes.”
 
      The line comes from a song called, “10,000 Reasons” but most folks call it “Bless the Lord.”
 
“Bless the Lord, o my soul, o my soul.
Worship His holy Name.
Sing like never before, o my soul.
I’ll worship His holy name.”
 
      The ending of the first verse is this:
 
“Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,
Let me be singing when the evening comes.”
 
      As I read the lyrics to the rest of the song, it was more than moving.  I’ve sung them 10s of times.  The third verse will take on a deeper meaning the next time we sing it.
 
“And on that day when my strength is failing.
The end draws near and my time has come.
Still, my soul will sing Your praise unending.
Ten thousand years and then forevermore.”
 
      When the angels come to get Jodie, whenever that may be, I can see him walking through gates singing an unending praise to His Lord.  He has lived his life for that moment.
 
      The beginning of 10,000 years and then forevermore.