Mother's Day Hold On To Jesus

My grandmother found herself already a young widow and childless when she met an old sweetheart. To their mutual surprise, they were both available, and he pursued her and won her hand in marriage. But to her sorrow, the doctors had told her she could never have children. Despite the ‘miracles of modern medicine,’ Jesus blessed them with the child she longed for – my mother.

Like so many of us, all by herself, the baby grew to become more children than one mother could manage! But that child, my mother, is also the reason that the same Jesus who blessed my grandmother lives in my life. My mother is the one who taught me to say my prayers at bedtime and meals, sent me to church, and lived as the steady, loving example that has inspired my life.

So, although my daughter and I will sing this song as gift for the families dedicating their babies at church on Mother's Day, this lullaby is dedicated to mom. Hold on to her, Jesus!

http://vimeo.com/27531267

You're a little piece of heaven
You're a golden ray of light
And I wish I could protect you
From the worries of this life
But if there's one thing I could tell you
It's no matter what you do
Hold to Jesus
He's holding on to you

The world will try to tell you
That might is more than right
That beauty's on the outside
And being good's a losing fight
But remember what I've told you
Because the world will make you choose
Hold to Jesus
He's holding on to you

Hold on to Jesus
Cling to His love
Rest deep in His mercy
Whenever things get rough
Don't lose sight of His goodness
And don't ever doubt this truth
That when you hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you

Hear me dear Jesus
Rock this little one to sleep
Keep her close when she's scared
And give her grace when she is weak
I know she'll stumble
But I know she'll make it through
If you hold to her just like You said You'd do

Hold her Jesus
And she'll hold on tight to You

Where does Peace begin? How do you know it when you see it?

Look Here
Northern Ireland refuses to cede peace
Protestants and Catholics unify in vigils to protest the violence.
http://wwrn.org/articles/30473/

"These gunmen can't destroy the peace process," says Aidan Gillespie, walking with his daughter on the grounds of Antrim Castle, adjacent to the Massereene Barracks. "It's only society that can destroy it, by how we react. If we stick together against these murderers, then they will never win."

The reaction in Antrim was swift and unambiguous. The morning after the attack, hundreds of worshipers from the local Catholic, Presbyterian, Church of Ireland, and Methodist churches congregated for prayer at the police cordon where the shooting took place.


and Here:

Palestinians serenade survivors in Israel
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/world/middleeast/26jenin.html

Any potential awkwardness may have been dulled by the language barrier — other than Ms. Younis, the Palestinians spoke only Arabic; the survivors only Hebrew and their native European tongues. Each also appeared to have only the sketchiest knowledge about the other side.

Wanted to share

You may not know anything about Tracy Chapman or her music. Her debut album (back in 1988) was raw inner city stories, simple words, simple melodies and full of emotion. I have the CD; I've had it for years.  Her second album was more complex, less auto-biographical, not so raw nor so popular. I think I used to have that one as well.

So it was a surprise to find her song recorded on a Celtic Spirit album I have on my laptop. (They got the lyrics wrong, too - something so simple...) While I was checking the lyrics, I stumbled across this. 

While I don't particularly like the duet, I have listened to the song for years and this is moving tribute to what she wrote.  She sings on the right side of your screen, and I find her beautiful! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MM8_XNj76g

For those who cannot view online video, I'll tell you the rest of the story at the link you can't see - she is performing a very simple song in a duet with Luciano Pavarotti, who is singing his part in Italian.  There is a full orchestral accompaniment (they were true to her original melody; it's well done) and she grins ear to ear while he's singing her song in Italian.  And they're performing an outdoor concert for thousands of people clapping along to a very basic rhythm. Only the last note is in harmony - it's all very simple, and a lovely tribute to her composition!

"Peforming live at Pavarotti and Friends for Cambodia and Tibet, 2000."

And here are the original lyrics:

Sorry
Is all that you cant say
Years gone by and still
Words dont come easily
Like sorry like sorry

Forgive me
Is all that you cant say
Years gone by and still
Words dont come easily
Like forgive me forgive me

But you can say baby
Baby can I hold you tonight
Maybe if I told you the right words
At the right time youd be mine

I love you
Is all that you cant say
Years gone by and still
Words dont come easily
Like I love you I love you