The Bradleys

“It’s Beginning To Rain”

The power of song, when used by God, is immeasurable. I’m only speaking from my own experience. It seems every important decision, each loved one, and most every meaningful thing in my life has a song attached. Not necessarily ones I have written, but songs God has used to comfort me, lead me, and encourage me along the way.

God has many other wonderful ways of getting His messages to our hearts. His Word is just as precious and real however He sends it. Still, my favorite way is when He gives a song!

This “song-story” began when I was a child. Our family attended a very small church. The members were not especially gifted with great singing abilities, but how dear are my memories of their voices and their songs! Even as a child, I recognized the lack of talent, but also the sweet spirit and earnest praise in their singing.

One lady was nearly deaf in one ear, so she sang louder than everyone else. I smile to remember how innocently she sang out above the congregation. One of her songs- I call it “hers” because, though everyone sang it together, she sang it with more feeling than all the rest. In my mind it is “Vera’s song.” Whenever I hear it, no matter who is singing it, I hear Vera’s voice in my mind.

She never knew what she gave to me by praising the Lord in that song. It is a treasure I’ve held onto through the years. God has used it to encourage and comfort me many times. Not just by the meaning of the words, but the feeling that is attached to the song. I see Vera with her hands upraised, eyes closed, and her warm full smile. She seemed to anticipate refreshing raindrops to fall from heaven as she sang “It’s Beginning To Rain.” /(song written by Bill and Gloria Gaither)/

Recently, I visited Vera at the nursing home where she spent the last month of her journey here. I’m ashamed to say, it was my first time to see her in over ten years. My mom asked me to come with her to see Vera, and I was almost sorry I‘d come. I didn’t wish to see her in this condition.

She’d had several strokes and couldn’t speak. I could tell she recognized us by the look in her eyes, and she tried to say our names. However, she gave very little other response to us, and slept through most of our visit. Her granddaughter sat by her bed. She was obviously weary with the many long nights caring for her grandmother. I stood listening to her and my mom talk about the past. They remembered how the Love of God had flowed out from Vera to everyone she met. All the while, the song just kept rolling over and over in my mind.

It was nearly time for us to leave, when finally, I swallowed my pride, and without invitation, without asking permission, I began singing in Vera’s good ear- “It’s beginning to rain…..”

She opened her eyes, and looked at me. She smiled, and tears trickled down her face. Her granddaughter cried too. Mom joined me, and we sang the chorus over several times. Then we sang another old hymn Vera used to love. We could see it meant the world to her! Oh, the power of a song!

It was over twenty years ago, that I first heard Vera sing, and only two weeks ago, that I stood by her bed singing the song she taught me. Today, Vera sings in Heaven, and I’m sure there is not one angel who sounds any sweeter!

Jennifer McCallister
The Bradleys
http://www.thebradleys.net