Isabel's West Nile Survivor friends have a common inspirational motto that has sustained them during these last four years: "Strength for today and hope for tomorrow".
Today, "four years of Sundays" after the last time Isabel went to Knox United Church in Abernethy, she was delighted to find herself back in the sanctuary amid the beautiful stained glass and familiar faces once again.
Much to the surprise of Isabel and her driver, we discovered that the first hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness, contains the words "Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow" which told us the origin of the familiar West Nile Survivors' motto.
Isabel sat in her portable wheelchair. "Your comfortable pew!" quipped an old friend mimicking a book about church-goers written decades ago.
Isabel responded: "It's great to be here. I never imagined I would be here again except in a 6 foot box!!!"
Gratitude again.
Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not,
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see,
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me.
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.
- T Chisholm (lyrics) and W Runyan (music) in Voices United #288
No comments:
Post a Comment