Singing Lessons

The elderly voice struggled with the high notes, but Diana’s mother sang all the verses of “Blessed Assurance.” Then she launched into “Praise Him! Praise Him!”

“Mom, I can’t believe you know every word.” Diana shook her head in amazement.

“Fanny Crosby was still writing them at my age.” Her mother grinned. “Guess I can sing them!” She looked wistful. “Would you play for me, hon, like you did when you were a girl?”

Diana hesitated. Her job and family didn’t leave much time for music. She hadn’t touched a piano in years. Now her mother’s care took her free time. But Diana sat down at the piano. To her surprise, her fingers found most of the right notes to “In the Garden.” Her mother sang stronger. Diana chimed in with a little harmony and felt her tight shoulders relax.

The next time she checked in, Diana played again. To her surprise, her mother requested a contemporary chorus, “Here I Am to Worship.”

“I like that song,” she said simply. “That’s why God still keeps me here. To worship Him.”

And to teach me how, Diana added silently. She and her mother sang together every Sunday evening until her mom took her place in the heavenly choir.