The Story of "The Song"
I was just sitting here thinking and while I was sitting here thinking I began to hear a small voice. That voice wasn’t powerful; it wasn’t overwhelming, the voice, the voice you see sounded like the voice of a woman singing a song. As I sat there still and quiet, the voice got just a little bit louder, still wasn’t too powerful or overwhelming, the voice was calm and almost soothing to my very soul.
I kept right on sitting, right there in my chair, just listening to voice, the voice began to sound a little clearer, the voice began to sound a little familiar to me and the song did too. As I sat there listening to the song, I began to notice that it wasn’t just the voice of one woman, but the voice sounded like it started with just one single soul. That soul crying out, that soul reaching forth through the darkness in song carrying a message forth to anyone that would hear.
Then before long that voice, I tell you that voice began to blend in with another voice, and what sounded like yet another voice. It was the voice of my mother, my grandmother, and other women who may have gone down this road before me.
This voice was trying to tell a story, trying to relay a message if you will. This voice…this voice, didn’t sound sad and lowly, didn’t sound high and mighty, but it sounded like the voice of every woman going forth through the darkness….going forth through the light….
As I was listening to the voice, I began to see in my mind, way back when I was a little girl, going to church with my momma and daddy….I could see the women as they entered into the church walking down that center isle; I could see the different people, some young, some old, some in that mid-range. I could see them as they made their way into the church. I could see them in their dresses and their hats. I was able to see them coming into the church, some doing the best they could, but pressing their way into the house of the Lord. I recall, seeing testimony services going forth and I could hear in the distance a woman began to sing her song.
At the same time I could hear the voice of a young girl asking her mother a question – or making a remark of “Why, why this old lady kept singing the same old song” like she didn’t know any other songs…Then I was able to see an old lady come stand beside the girl and she began to talk to her and tell her testimony. The girl looked like she really didn’t want to hear it,
But the old lady said…
“Baby, I sing this song because, it reminds me of where I have been and what I have been through, it soothes me to know that my God is with me today, just as he was yesterday, it stirs me down on the inside, and makes me want to press my way through, the heartache and pain, to press my way through my physical pains, it drives me to pull closer to God and thank him for every situation and every circumstance, even if I don’t understand, it reminds me that the troubles of this old world won’t be my troubles always, it reminds me that I have a heavenly home where I can rest these weary old bones, where I can ease my troubled mind, where I don’t have to worry where my help is coming from and how I’m gonna make it through another day.”
“Baby, I sing this song as a message to you my child, to continue to seek God, all the days of your life, seek him with all your might, read his word, carry it with you in your heart. So when trouble comes on every side, you are reminded that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. I sing this song to remind you not to be afraid, because God said In his word Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; God your rod and your staff they comfort me.”
“I sing this song to remind you that when you get tired and your mind gets weary that He will restore your soul: he will lead you in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”
“So baby, when you don’t know which way to go all you got to do is call on God, And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
“Baby, I sing this song to remind you that when you feel your back is against the wall and you have nowhere else to turn, as I have found myself many, many times before; that you are not alone, God is with you. In those times of trouble, in those times of hurt and pain, in that moment of depression or despair, and even in our times of joy and celebration that we must lift up our eyes to the hills from where comes our help. Our help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.”
The old lady turned back to the girl, because by this time, she was looking up toward heaven as if she was calling on God right then, giving him honor and glory, even as she was speaking to the young lady. She said, “Baby, now do you understand, why…why I sing this song?” It ain’t because I don’t know any other songs to sing, but it’s because this one, means so much.”
She began to sing just a little bit more of the song to the young lady, she said, “Steal away, steal away, Steal away to Jesus! Steal away, steal away home, I ain't got long to stay here.” – then she told her…”Sometimes you need to get to yourself, some place quiet, some place where you don’t have any distractions, and you can have a little prayer, a little talk if you will, with the Lord.” When you steal away to Jesus, you are dedicating that time, that attention, that energy to Jesus, to God the Father. It is he who has made us and not we ourselves, and it is he keeps us, and that troubles don’t last always.”
She began to sing just a little bit more, she said, “My Lord, He calls me, He calls me by the thunder; The trumpet sounds within my soul, I ain't got long to stay here.” She said… “For me, that means even in the midst of my storm (troubles, trials, sickness, depression, loneliness, brokenness) that God still speaks to me…I can hear him way down deep within my soul”…You know that still small voice, that tells you everything is gonna be alright, when it seems that everything is going wrong?...Well, baby, That’s God speaking into your spirit, encouraging you, comforting you, strengthening you.”
She went back and started to sing again…she said… “Steal away, steal away, Steal away to Jesus! Steal away, steal away home, I ain't got long to stay here.” Then she told her, sometimes, you have to go to God more than one time about a thing…it’s not that he didn’t hear you, but sometimes you gotta show yourself Faithful and true. Sometimes in the spirit you gotta continue to seek God, go to him on behalf of yourself, others or a situation, because your blessings and breakthroughs are on the way, but are being held up by Satan and his minions, his demons…that are trying to keep those blessings from getting to you, to try to hold things up, just long enough for you to give up on God, and lose faith, lose hope.
She went on to sing the next verse…she said… “Green trees are bending, Poor sinners stand a-trembling; The trumpet sounds within my soul, I ain't got long to stay here.” Now, for me, this one reminds me of a couple bible verses – Jeremiah 17: 7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. – When trouble comes – we need to be like the “green trees” – the winds may blow and cause us to bend, appearing to wave to and fro, the storms may come with heavy rains causing the very grounds in which we stand to appear as if they are eroding from under our feet, the heat or hard times may come and dry up all that is around us, but we who are planted, firmly in God, will be like the Green trees, they are not easily broken and we must get our roots into solid ground – the word of God.” And the other verse is Deuteronomy 28:7 - The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
Once again she started to sing… “Steal away, steal away, Steal away to Jesus! Steal away, steal away home, I ain't got long to stay here.” She looked at the young lady, and this time the young lady said… “Sometimes you gotta keep praying until you see God move”…The old lady, said, “Yes, baby…now you’re getting it.”
She told the young lady, there’s just one last verse to this song…it says… “My Lord, He calls me, He calls me by the lightning; The trumpet sounds within my soul, I ain't got long to stay here.” The older lady, who is well on up in years…dressed in her blue suit, her matching hat with the feather on the side, panty hose covered legs with moderate dress shoes, stood what appeared to be about an inch or so taller than before at this time, still clutching her walking cane, had a beautiful smile on her face as she began to share the meaning of the last verse of this song… She looked deeply into the young girls eyes with a still pleasant, but serious look about herself and said… “This one reminds me of Matthew 24:27, 30-31 – where it says - For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be…. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”…. 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect…. “and I want to be ready when he comes….so I will continue to “steal away, steal away to Jesus…because I know I’ll be going home.”
“You see baby, everything on this earth is temporary, but life in heaven with God, is eternal…and when we steal away to Jesus, when we get down on our knees, when we call out to God in prayer…we are connecting to the source from which we came.” That song ain’t sad…that song, if you listen will teach you something, remind you of things you’ve learned once, but forgotten, will keep you encouraged, will send a message to others that are willing to hear what it has to say.”
You may not remember me, but perhaps you will remember this song…feel free to sing it sometimes or maybe even just hum along. Everyone’s got a story to tell, their ups, downs, victories, and what even at times feels like defeats…but some people, baby, have a song.
Written by: Arlene Miles Lassiter
© April 29, 2011