Music was a big part of my childhood. Mom played the piano and gave me my first lessons. She sang me songs she knew as a child and many short “self-composed” songs for whatever the need around the house. And then there were the hymns and gospel songs from church and radio. It was a gift to me – being always surrounded by good music.
As life would have it, music brings different styles and more beautiful tunes. Yet, I prefer not to view the old as only ones to be disregarded and disposed of, but to be cherished and loved along with the new.
Not long ago, our family had the privilege of being asked to come and sing at a “hymn sing.” In the morning, the people gathered and called out the page numbers of the hymn or gospel song they wanted to sing. Then the crowd would sing heartily. It was beautiful to hear their harmony and heart felt praise!
After it was over, I heard an older lady regretfully mention that they hadn’t gotten to the song she wanted to sing. She wanted to sing, “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.”
It was then my new friend, eighty-eight-year-old Anna Ruth shared a treasured story from her past. There were ten kids in their family. Six boys and four girls. Her daddy was a coal miner. So, if the mines “laid off” they were out of money. Then came the depression years. It was tough to feed such a large family, but her mama found a place where she could get great big bags of peanuts. She brought them home to their family – and all the kids joyfully gathered around the kitchen table to help shell peanuts.
Even in these tough times, they were a happy family. So much so that other neighbors and neighbor kids would stop in to “help shell peanuts.” Then, her mama would roast or boil those peanuts, fix them up in little bags and head out the door to sell them for .10 cents a bag. Flying around the curves went Mama Gertie to wherever she could find a customer.
One day her sister went along with her. As they traveled quickly along, they were singing, “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.” Flying around one curve, Gerties sister exclaimed, “Gertie, if you keep flying around these curves this fast, we might be up yonder faster than you think!”
There was twinkle in the eyes of Anna Ruth that caught my attention. Something in her story that made me want to share it. The joy in the midst of hardship. The beauty of a family “pulling together” to make ends meet. The singing of a song from a mama’s heart even as she did “whatever it took” to help put food on the table for the children. These are enduring and endearing traits.
Perhaps it’s a reminder of how to respond when unwelcome circumstances cross our path. A prompting to “pull together,” to overcome. An encouragement to sing and praise through all things, And one day, when our families have heard the “roll call” from “up yonder,” may the circle be unbroken as we worship at the feet of Jesus.
By Janene