Mysterious Ways: Right on Cue
I missed my parents so much. If only they could be here with me again.
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print“Did you see all the new hymnals?” I said to my husband, Bob, pointing to the rows and rows of them lining the pews. It was a bright, beautiful May Day Sunday. Bob and I were standing in the back of the sanctuary at First Lutheran Church, waiting for the opening hymn to begin so we could head up to the front and serve communion.
“Sure did,” he said. “They look great.”
A few years earlier a new version of the Lutheran Book of Worship was published. Our church had finally purchased over a hundred of them for our congregation. Members were invited to buy a hymnal and dedicate it to the memory of a loved one. Bob and I jumped at the chance to dedicate one to my parents.
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I thought back to all the times I’d stood beside my staunch Lutheran parents in church, listening to Dad belt out “A Mighty Fortress.” I wished we could sing together once again. But they were gone now. They’d passed away years ago and I missed them so much. Especially this time of year. May had always been the month of happy family celebrations: Mother’s Day, Dad’s birthday, my birthday, my daughter’s birthday, even our anniversary.
“Mom and Dad would have loved to see all the new books,” I whispered to Bob. “I just wish we could find the one we dedicated to them.
“There are too many to search through now,” Bob said. “We can try to find it later. You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “I just wish they could be here with me.”
“Me too,” he said.
The music started.
“Ready?” Bob whispered.
“Yes,” I said, grabbing a hymnal from the back pew so I could sing along. I flipped it open as we walked toward the front of the sanctuary. It landed on the dedication page.
I felt my pulse quicken. Tears filled my eyes. I blinked them away as I read the words, “In memory of George and Alice Neimeier from Bob and Leslie Morris.”
My mom and dad, by my side in church, as always.
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Your Comments (8)
Several years ago we had gotten a new pastor and we had sheets of music in different rooms in the church. It was disorganized. We organized the music. There were several paperback hymn books, maybe just one copy each of several different titles. Some of the books had the original owner's name on the inside front cover. I picked up one book and opened it up and I couldn't believe it. There on the inside front cover was my great grandmother's name. My grandmother must have brought her mother's book to the church after she died. I have the book now.
I moved from PA to CA over 15 years ago and was browsing one day in a Salvation Army bookstore in Corona, CA when I came across a Hymnal called "Great Hymns of the Faith" a green hymnal with beautiful gold lettering on its cover. They wanted fifty cents for it! With joy I bought this treasure and brought it home--I now read it often as POETRY, each hymn fills my eyes with tears! I don't know how it got to Corona, because a label inside reads "Property of Grace Community Church, 13248 Roscoe BLVD., Panorama City, CA, 91412, but I'm glad it made its way to my hands and my home. Everyone should have one!
I had a similar experince, not once but twice, after my husband had suffered a major stroke. Returning to church, I looked inside two hymnals, one one Sunday and one the next. The first was the hymnal that I had dedicated to the choir when the church bought new hymnals. The second was inscribed in memory of my grandmother whom I attended church with throughtout my teen-aged years. I knew God was telling me that we were not alone.
I have to say, the exact same thing happened to me. Only I had been moved from my hometown and homechurch for over 20 years. My mom died and I purchased a hymnal in her memory to be placed there in her (and my old) church. Several years after she passed away my husband (his name is Bob too) and I came back for a visit...walked down the isle and took our seats...when it was time for the first hymn, I picked up the hymnal in the back of the pew directly in front of us, and opened it up only to find it was the hymnal I had purchased in memory of my mom. It was a very unexpected and happy blessing from God on that day.
I'm Korean, I had often read this Magazine in Korea, bilingual contents
At any time I felt depressed and frustrated, It has given consolation and strength of soul
today morning, I find website of the origin, I will frequently visit here
thank you your effort to spread God's Will!
Jong Yong
So nice to see your post. I admire that you can read English. My daughter is teaching English in South Korea and I miss her very much. I'm trying to learn Korean a little bit for when I visit her but it is hard ;o)
I admire Korea and Korean Christians so much.
God bless you and your country.
신의 축복이 한국
(from Google translate)
Judy, my niece is teaching in South Korea also. Not sure where, Janae is her name. Isn't it wonderful with technology you can stay close to her?
The same happened to me more than twenty years ago...i read the book in new zealand, then looked for it for ten years, and couldn't find it...one day, a friend from argentina wanted to through some magazines from the states...and asked if i wantes...will you believe me they were about 20 guideposts magazines?..i believe in God. Amen.