Saturday, February 21, 2009

Requiem for a precious lady

Earlier this week I attended the visitation of a blessed lady who passed away.

She was 90 years old; we might say she lived a full life. Her life was dedicated to music. She taught music in local schools, she had a great hand in the Barbershop Chorus where she and her family lived. She was instrumental in the musical life of her church.

There are many things that could be said about her, but the best, that my military, pastoral, mind can come up with is to quote a song that I have on CD by the Oak Ridge Boys, but appears to have been one belonging to the Rambo's. At the risk of offending the record labels, I am going to share the words.

"There's a voice missing in our little country choir
Rock of Ages will never sound the same
God heard her singing
Heaven was not complete
Now, mama's teaching angels how to sing.

{chorus}
Mama's teaching angels how to sing
Heaven's halls are silent when mama sings
David lays down his harp and Heaven's bells won't ring
When mama's teaching angels how to sing.

The old home its empty
its lonesome since she's gone
and its hard to know she won't return again
ah, but I'll meet her in that morning on Heaven's golden hill
where my mama's teaching angels how to sing.

{chorus}"

Ethel, you are, and will be, missed; I am privileged and honored to have known you.

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