Abide With Me

Last Sunday night at church, we sang the hymn Abide with Me, and as we sang, I couldn't help but think of my grandmother, Mo-Mo. She used to have me play the piano for her, and she loved her hymns. Unfortunately, I wasn't quite stellar on the piano, but I tried to plug through, even though I had numerous pauses while I tried to figure out what the notes were. My sweet Mo-Mo would keep singing in her lovely soprano voice at the appropriate tempo:) Sunday night, I decided to write to her and tell her how wonderfully I was blessed by the women's retreat that weekend at my church and how I was thinking about her when we sang this hymn.

On Monday, due to a busy day, I didn't buy a stamp (since the price of them went up since the last time I purchased any), and early Tuesday morning, my dear Mo-Mo went home to be w/ her Lord. Since she didn't get to sing this with me here on earth, I look forward to singing with her in heaven.

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour. What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness. Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

July 2007

Mo-Mo taught me what it looks like to not be afraid to die, but at the same time, not be afraid to live. I will be forever blessed by her.