We Marshallairs were Performing at a residence for Seniors last Thursday. It is our custom to go around the room visiting after we finished singing. Four or five people told me that they could hear the words for every song. I suppose that was because we sing the old songs and they remembered them but we sang some new songs too. Some of the songs we sang were  ; Lullaby of Broadway, a medley of songs written by Irving Berlin, The World is Waiting for the Sunrise, O Soldier Will You Marry me? The Old Lamplighter and Amazing Grace.

I am a fan of The Voice on Television and most of the songs they sing  those of today which my son says are familiar. I wouldn’t know because I can’t understand their words and it seems screeching rather than singing is the method of singing today. However, it’s fun to pick the winners and losers. Why is going up high and screeching so important? Just watch the judges. They  sit there listening until the screeching and loudness begins and all of the sudden they smile. Some of them even stand up! They are too excited to sit down. But they do listen to the voice of the person singing.

Why are the songs and ways of singing so different today? My grandchildren like to listen to Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole as much as I do. But they like the new music too. I am trying to like the new music, even the screeching and loudness. But I surely would like to understand their words. I have always thought that bringing the people you are trying to reach a message, whether it be a love song or a hymn. My son thinks it’s my ears but I don’t think so because when I hear a new song and the person singing is singing without screeching, I can understand the words. I still say “Let’s bring back the good old songs of the past.”

 

Today I am thinking about my daughter’s healing because she just told me she would be running the marathon near the Canadian border this year. Other years she has run the “Mt. Hood To The Beach” and one in the mountains near Bend, Oregon. Before each one she says “It’s for God”. I’ll tell you why she says that.

Our daughter could not run or even walk when most babies were learning. It became very concerning. We were running from doctor to doctor until she was three years old. One children’s specialist told us we could get her a brace after her bones developed, probably around age ten. Then, a friend of Frank’s, my husband, called me. She told me that Bobbe had been on her mind all day. She wanted us to take her to Maranatha, a church in  Portland. A man was visiting there and he had the gift of God using him in healing.

I balked. I told her many people were praying for her and that was enough, but she was consistent. She called again asking me to ask Frank when he came home from work. He, at first, said no but we figured these were our marching orders from God, so we went.

It was a rainy Friday evening and the church was full of people we were not used to. Most of them were young people wearing beards and dirty cloths. We talked about going home but felt like we should stay. The pastor finally asked those who wanted healing to form a line. We were reluctant but I took Bobbe in my arms and stood up. After a while Frank stood up too, but he whispered, “Look at some of the people laying there on the floor. Boy are they ever play acting. I think we should get out of here!”  I shushed him because we were getting closer to the man.The man, I can’t remember his name, prayed for Bobbe but didn’t touch her. She screamed loudly, not like any scream I had ever heard and a lady told me to sit beside her and quiet my little girl down.

I got her quieted down and began looking for my husband. I figured he had run out of the church but the lady pointed to him. He was lying on the floor! Just the thing he had told me before, that they were play acting. He told me later that he had tried to get up but a voice said, “I’m not finished with you yet” and pushed him down again!

We watched her closely all day on Saturday but saw so progress. On Sunday afternoon, Frank had to take his Little Leaguers over to the park to have their pictures taken. Our son, Ronnie was one of his leaguers, and  Frank was the manager of the team so I went along taking Bobbe with me in her stroller. She wanted to get out so I spread a blanket on the ground, but she would have nothing to do with it and instead began to run back and forth! Ronnie and Frank saw her running and came over! They were crying as I was. It was a wonderful day and we surely thanked God for what he had done. She has been running ever since!

So, this is why Bobbe runs for God. And maybe you will agree with me that our God can do anything!