Since I cheated with my first post on the Write For 31 Days, Greg came in – like a masked hero or knight in shining armor – and wrote on the prompt word for days one and two.  He has given me the inspiration to do likewise.  Being programmed as I am, it is hard for me not to give each individual prompt word the attention it rightly deserves.  In doing so, I want to give each word a separate page and devote my time to really focusing on just that word.  Alas, I’m now nine days behind, so I’ve tried to take Greg’s lead on this.  But, my strong-willed personality has taken over, and already I’ve written a long post solely on the word Believe …

And here we go …

BELIEVE

Back in 2007, I met a beautiful soul through the internet.  It was not a direct connection, though.  Our meeting came about due to a song entitled “I Believe.”  

Having been chosen to sing a solo at church, I was looking for an unique song to sing.  I didn’t want the traditional hymns they’d been singing for years, nor did I want a contemporary worship song we were used to singing in the 11 a.m. service.  Instead, I sought out a song that had a powerful message but was not the “norm.”  I wanted the words of the song and the melody to flow right across the congregation and sink right into their hearts and minds.

I found such a song in “I Believe.”

I contacted the songwriter to gain permission to sing her beautiful song about our Lord and Savior.  Not only did she grant permission, she was thrilled to have received a message from me regarding her song.  We exchanged several emails, and in doing so, she inquired as to where I lived.  When I responded, she advised me that one of her friends lived in my area.  She suggested that I get in touch with her fellow songwriter and friend.  When I did, this older lady was delighted with the thought of me singing this in church and then suggested that we should meet at some point.  Realizing she was just 15 minutes down the road from me absolutely thrilled me!

Not only did I meet this lady shortly thereafter, we helped me perfect the song right there in her home.  She had a room set up like a studio with a microphone and recording equipment.  She assisted and encouraged me, and we became good friends.  This lady that was old enough to be my grandmother became one of my dearest friends.

When her husband was ill, she would ask me to come to her house and sing for her.  Each time she would record me to play back at a later time when she needed to feel uplifted and encouraged.  Later, when I got involved with the interpretive movement team at church, she asked my family and I to come perform at her house for her.  She recorded us as we worshipped this way in song, although her passion really was through listening to me sing.

I had the pleasure of taking my friend, Greg, to her house in 2017.  Her husband had passed the year before, and she, herself, was falling ill.   We were lucky enough to visit with her and have her play while we sang for her.   Those memories are engraved in my mind.  I treasure them because it was precious time we spent together.

Sadly, my dear friend passed away shortly thereafter.  This world lost such a precious jewel the day she died.