Lost and Found

Several years ago a dear friend passed away suddenly. He was a wonderful father to his own kids, and a terrific role model to several other boys in the neighborhood, including ours. Helping to plan music for the funeral I asked, “What were his favorite hymns?” His widow and sister looked at each other and started to giggle. They told me he had several favorites, but he never sang them the way they are in the hymnal. He had his own words, like:

“I know how ugly I are. My face ain’t no bright shining star.

But me I don’t mind it because I’m behind it. It’s you folks up front gets the jar.”

Or:

“There is beauty all around when there’s no one home;

There is joy in every sound when there’s no one home;

Peace and plenty here abide, smiling sweet on every side,

Time doth softly sweetly glide, when there’s no one home.”