I went to choir rehearsal last night.
Oh, what a blessing. What a blessing to lift and blend my voice with the other dedicated members of the Arapahoe Road music ministry. To be back among people who have held me up and prayed for me and visited us throughout this past difficult year.
Aside from a few weeks last summer, I really haven't been in choir since Jolene's death. First, it was too painful. Every song made me cry. Then, my knee went out and I couldn't possibly make the steps. Lately, I've been busy with writing deadlines and getting Mom settled. (And oh, yes, I still wasn't sure about those steps. Turns out they weren't so difficult after all.)
The rehearsal was wonderful, everything I hoped and longed for, until we reached a song we practiced for last year's Good Friday service. (We're using the same song again this year.)
I rehearsed and prepared for that service, but never took part. Instead, we held Jolene's memorial service on Good Friday. Easter came early last year, March 23, during the time we were in the first throes of grief. For all I know, every Easter from now on I will remember that Easter.
So grief and memory continue to intertwine in my life. Pray for strength to sing God's praise. He is the Resurrection and the Life and most worthy of all my praise and so much more.
Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. (Psalm 96:1-2, NIV)
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Darlene Franklin
Darlene Franklin
About Me
- Darlene Franklin
- Oklahoma
- Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin lives in cowboy country—Oklahoma. Oklahoma has the benefit of being the home to her son, his wife, and their four beautiful children. Darlene loves music, needlework, reading and reality tv. She currently resides in a nursing home, which has become a place of blessing. Darlene is the author of twenty-five novels and novellas. She has also written around 250 devotionals and personal experience pieces for various publications, including her soon-to-release book, It Is Well with my Soul. For links to her books and other writing, check out the second page of the blog.
4 comments:
Great to have you back, Darlene!
--Kim L.
If ever there was a holiday that this grief should make you turn to God it's the day you and He share losing a child.
God bless you
My Dad went to be with the Lord just before Easter 22 yrs. ago. I still think about him every Easter and have some Easter lilies in remembrance of him. But the pain has definately lessened as the years go by. Now the memories are happy ones.
Glad you can be back in choir and singing praises to the Lord. That should help.
Hugs.
Darlene,
The sharing of your thoughts is helpful. We need to know the concerns others have, be it grief or worry about stairs so we can be a blessing. Unless we go through it ourselves, or someone like you shares, we are often oblivious. Thank you for being open about such things.
Grateful Grammy
PS I just finished Romanian Rhapsody and enjoyed it.
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