“There is never a grief or loss but that Jesus in love will
lighten.”
Hymn: “Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus” – Anna B. Russell
(1862-1954)
Tune: NEW ORLEANS
I remember the day in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee when they
buried my last uncle… the final sibling on both sides of my parents’ families.
It is a strange feeling to know that all those people have moved from this life
into the next. My Uncle Everett (known to us as Zeke), joined the
previously-deceased Smelcer clan who awaited his arrival with great joy; his
sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren are, on the other end of the emotional
spectrum, caught up in grief and loss.
Today’s hymn-line comes from another one of those lilting
6/8-metered tunes so familiar to the congregations in my part of the country.
Throughout its stanzas, this hymn repeats the phrase “there is never…” applied to many ‘downer’ occurrences, all of
which are tended to by the wonderful, wonderful Jesus.
Extreme grief and overwhelming loss may weigh us down more
than we realize. In fact, the admission of these is often denied by people
going through such emotions. Beneath such a great burden, this hymn-line
reminds us that Jesus is available to lighten the load if we but give him the
opportunity – yea, even the privilege!
Implants are routinely done nowadays: devices that help send
electronic impulses to the brain when certain body parts can’t respond naturally
on their own. I have the most common of these: a pacemaker for my heart. In this hymn’s refrain, Anna B. Russell
reminds us that in the heart he
implanteth a song… because songs tend to turn our attention away from our
difficulties, at least for a time. According to the refrain’s text, the implanted
song is one of deliverance, of courage,
of strength. In times of grief and loss, that’s the kind of song we need to
hear… and to sing!
Whatever bothersome cargo you carry today, may this hymn or
another great song of faith lift your spirit as he lightens your load. With a
6/8 lilt, let’s go skipping through the day!
I couldn’t find a
professionally-produced example,
but this one is simple
and straight-forward.
(I especially like the
2-measure bridges between stanzas!)
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