It Is Good to Be Thankful: Appreciation makes the world a better place…
When my dad got Alzheimer’s and had to go to a care facility, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. They kept telling him he had lung cancer and he kept telling them he didn’t. Perhaps that’s why he managed to stay alive nine months in their hospice unit. He was 84 when he finally passed away, but I really appreciated that additional time with him.
He didn’t always recognize me when I entered his room but his face would light up. He’d say, “I can’t remember your name, but I know you. You are my daughter!” To me, that little recognition he had was a gift from God.
Our conversations were disjointed. Sometimes he could actually carry on a conversation and sometimes he couldn’t. However, he could always sing old gospel songs and hymns. He had a little cassette tape deck and he’d play the same songs over and over and over again. One of my fondest memories of the last months of his life was us singing the songs he taught me as a child. It was kind of funny in a way, because I never considered my dad a deeply religious man but he deeply believed in God.
We’d sing and sing and sing. “Just a closer walk with thee…” “A mighty fortress is our God…” “Oh they tell me of an unclouded day…” “I’ll fly away, oh glory…” “What a friend we have in Jesus…” “Rock of ages cleft for me…” “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine…” “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe…” “Amazing grace how sweet the sound…” “How great thou art…” “I come to the garden alone…” “It is well with my soul…” “I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop…” We loved to sing together.
When we’d sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus…” he’d look over at me and say, “You know that’s true, don’t you? Don’t ever forget it!”
I love all songs that praise God, but there is something special about classic, traditional hymns. They have stood the test of time. Just as meaningful today as they were in the past, they expose us to a rich Christian heritage. Most are easy to sing and memorize which help embed Christian truths into our very being. It’s amazing how many of them come to mind as I travel life’s highway and go through trials. Those words become a sort of prayer when I feel too weary to pray.
Plus, these old gospel songs and hymns bond us to former generations. When I’m counting my blessings and naming them one by one, I count the time I spent with Dad in his latter years, singing hymns of praise to God.
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“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord...” ~ Psalms 92:1 (KJV)
