Sunday dinner and special occasions in our family always found us gathered around the piano. For us, an after-meal browse through the Baptist Hymnal was as natural as saying the blessing before we sat down to eat. The fellowship was as sweet as the homemade ice cream, and with each singing our family bond grew stronger. The refreshing breeze and trickles of sunlight that came through the living room window on those warm Sunday afternoons were gentle reminders of our omnipotent Creator.
Kay Kent, second from left, is shown with her parents, Harold and Sara Westmoreland; sisters JoAnne Raycroft (far left) and Lynne Murrell; and brother Jim Westmoreland.We learned so many wonderful lessons at the piano – that God’s love is measureless and strong, his faithfulness is great, and his grace is amazing. As we sang my grandfather’s favorite, “Everybody will be Happy Over There,” we caught a glimpse of heaven and knew that God was indeed preparing a special place for us.
Our singings grew more special as we began to share our musical heritage with our own families. Teaching the hymns to our children and grandchildren continually renewed our spirits and our confidence in God’s word. When loved ones left to begin their time of eternal praise, God’s faithfulness upheld us through each sadness.
My father had a genuine appreciation for hymns that spoke quietly of God’s love and mercy. His most frequent requests, “It Took a Miracle” and “I Am Not Worthy,” reflected the matchless power and presence of God in our lives. Daddy’s love for music grew stronger as his health declined and his eyesight and memory failed. He loved for us to sing of the day that God would call us home and we would see Jesus face to face.
With last December drawing to a close and “Silent Night” gently echoing the beauty of love’s pure light, we watched Daddy’s once strong hands tremble and his walk become more feeble. We began to talk about the diagnosis of lymphoma and treatment options as the still cold winds of February chilled our bodies, but not our spirit.
Trusting in God’s infinite wisdom and remembering he would never forsake us, we went with Daddy to the hospital to begin treatment. Hour after hour, we listened to music and sang, even while the nurses administered the chemotherapy. Daddy was able to go home a few weeks before his 83rd birthday, and we were hopeful for his recovery. When the hospice nurse told us that his condition was deteriorating rapidly, we realized that his real home-going would soon take place.
Encouraged by God’s presence and confident of his eternal promises, we didn’t dwell on the physical end of Daddy’s life. Instead, we celebrated the wonderful heritage our earthly father had given us to our Heavenly Father. Throughout the day and into the early morning hours, we sang his favorites – “Oh, What a Saviour,” “He Touched Me,” and many others. We patted his hands, wiped his brow, and told him how much we loved him. With a new morning about to dawn, Mother asked us to join hands, pray, and sing once more his most beloved refrain, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that Name.”
The music of our childhood, and the songs forever etched in our hearts, strengthened us as we lovingly said goodbye. We felt the caring hands of God clutch our own as Daddy stepped onto the beautiful shores of heaven. Jesus drew us near with the comforting awareness that we would sing together again in that beautiful city we had learned of as children.
While the pain of separation is still real, I awake each day appreciative of God’s tender outpouring of peace and love. On my first visit to the cemetery after Daddy’s passing, I saw a bird’s egg on the grave marker. The little egg, though broken, reassured me that the One whose eye is on the sparrow will surely comfort and watch over me. I rejoice in knowing that the words Daddy loved so much have come true, for he has “joined the chorus in that bright city and he’ll sing up there forever more.” What a glad reunion day is coming when we join him in the choir.
Editor’s Note: Kent and her husband currently serve at Midway Baptist Church, Abbeville. He is the choir director, and she is the pianist.