Page 12 - Good News October 2015 paper

ack in 1932, I was 32 years hardly keep from crying out. I sat down at the piano, and my Take my hand, Precious Lord
old and a fairly new rushed to a phone and called hands began to browse over the lead me on…
Bhusband. My wife, Nettie, home. All I could hear on the keys. Something happened to me
and I were living in a little other end was “Nettie is dead. then. I felt at peace. I felt as When the darkness appears
apartment on Chicago's South Nettie is dead.” though I could reach out and and the night draws near
side. touch God. I found myself at the river I stand;
When I got back, I learned that playing a melody, and these guide my feet,
One hot August afternoon I had Nettie had given birth to a boy. I words just seemed to fall into hold my hand.
to go to St. Louis, where I was to swung between grief and joy. Yet place: Take my hand, Precious Lord
be the featured soloist at a large that night, the baby died. lead me on…
Revival Meeting. I didn't want to When my way grows drear
go. Nettie was in the last month I buried Nettie and our little boy Precious Lord, linger near Precious Lord, take my hand
of pregnancy with our first child. together, in the same casket. When my life is almost gone. lead me on,
But a lot of people were expec- Then I fell apart. For days I Hear my cry help me stand.
ting me in St. Louis. I kissed closeted myself. I felt that God Hear my call I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Nettie goodbye, clattered down- had done me an injustice. I didn't Hold my hand lest I fall. Through the storm,
stairs to our Model A, and, in a want to serve Him anymore or Take my hand, Precious Lord through the night
fresh Lake Michigan breeze, write Gospel songs. I just wanted Lead me on… lead me on to the light.
chugged out of Chicago on to go back to the jazz world I once Take my hand, Precious Lord
Route 66. knew so well. Precious Lord, take my hand Lead me home.
lead me on
However, outside the city, I But then, as I hunched alone in help me stand. As the Lord gave me these words
discovered that in my anxiety at that dark apartment those first I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. and melody, He also healed my
leaving, I had forgotten my music sad days, I thought back to the Through the storm spirit. I learned that, when we are
case. I wheeled around and afternoon I went to St. Louis. through the night in our deepest grief, when we
headed back. I found Nettie Something kept telling me to stay lead me on to the light. feel farthest from God, this is

sleeping peacefully. I hesitated with Nettie. Was that "some- Take my hand, precious Lord when He is closest and when we
by her bed; something was thing" God? Oh, if I had paid lead me home. are most open to His restoring
strongly telling me to stay. But more attention to Him that day, I Power. And so, I go on living for
eager to be on my way, and not would have stayed and been with When my work is all done God willingly and joyfully, until
wanting to disturb Nettie, I Nettie when she died. Or I could and my race here is run that Day comes when He will take
shrugged off the feeling and even have tried to prevent her let me see me and gently lead me home.
quietly slipped out of the room death... by the light Thou hast shown; - Tommy A. Dorsey, Tears In My
with my music. That fair city so bright Heart, James Collins, Xulon
From that moment on I vowed to where the LAMB is the LIGHT; Press, 2007).
The next night, in the steaming listen more closely to Him. But
St. Louis heat, the crowd called still I was lost in grief. Everyone
on me to sing again and again. was kind to me, especially a
When I finally sat down, a friend, Professor Fry, who
messenger boy ran up with a seemed to know what I needed.
Western Union telegram. I ripped
open the envelope. Pasted on the On the following Saturday
yellow sheet were the words: evening he took me up to
YOUR WIFE JUST DIED. Malone's Poro College, a neigh-
bourhood Music School. It was
People were happily singing and quiet; the late evening sun crept
clapping around me, but I could through the curtained windows. I