Here was my favorite part: he said that recently I inherited a beautiful painting of the Savior that used to hang in my grandmother's home. Denise brought it to me when she drove out from Denver, and I had propped it against a wall, awaiting its eventual home (unknown to me at the time).
One day when I was out, Marc decided to rearrange the mantel to make room for the painting. He found himself wondering if it was going to work with the rest of our decor, etc. But he left it for awhile to get a read on it, and now it just seems so right, and he can't even remember what else used to be there.
How often do we do that in our lives? What do we have to rearrange to make room for the Savior? Because it is always worth it, always, and whatever we give up will just fade away and we won't even miss it.
I was so moved by this, especially because it was all tied up with my grandmother in my mind. Then we sang Lead, Kindly Light as the closing hymn, a great favorite of mine:
1. Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.
2. I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.
3. So long thy pow’r hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!
Will lead me on
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!
Music: John B. Dykes, 1823–1876
Whew. I really am not much of a crier anymore, but I could hardly sing the hymn and it was a little bit difficult to go to Primary afterwards and carry on as if everything was normal! In the best possible way.
2 comments:
What a wonderful visual. Please thank Marc.
We also sang "Lead Kindly Light." Like you, I choked. The line that especially got me was "The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!" Sometimes I just feel homesick for heaven.
I always look forward to your Sunday Thoughts and I for one, am glad that you continue.
I have always loved that painting also. I gave it some years ago to my Dad, actually. I thought it would be nice for his home office, where he used to give his Patriarchal blessings. I think my mom always loved it more than he did! I'm glad you ended up with it. And I love that Marc used it as a focal point for the mantle! I love your thoughts about that focal point in our lives.
Text me a photo...I'd love to have it in my mind.
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