Angels Unaware
Yesterday at the eleven o’clock church service I sat sandwiched between my two eldest daughters. It was lovely. Emma’s arm was linked through mine as we sang the processional hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers , together. My heart filled with mirth as the little girl to my right sang out so loudly and joyfully even though the tune of this song was lost on her. Standing there listening to Emma sing took me back to other occasions when I’ve stood beside a beautifully off-key singing loved one. My late grandfather Lewis’s hymn singing resembled the sounds a tortured cat might make, but I always smiled inside when I stood next to him in church. Even though the music was like an unknown foreign language to him, the lyrics were stitched into his heart. Any person who stood by his side while he softly squealed along with How Great Thou Art could clearly discern the depth of his sentiment. I have equally fond memories of listening to my late grandmother ...