Precious Lord

[Schoolin4atHome]

My cousin sent this 2 me, it was so moving that I just had 2 share it.

            > Who wrote the song "Precious Lord"? I was very surprised to
find out who it was.
              >
              > THE BIRTH OF THE HYMN "PRECIOUS LORD"
              >
              > Back in 1932, I was a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie
and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago 's south side. One hot
August afternoon I had to go to St.. Louis where I was to be the featured
soloist at a large revival meeting. I didn't want to go; Nettie was in the
last month of pregnancy with our first child, but a lot of people were
expecting me in St. Louis . I kissed Nettie goodbye, clattered downstairs to

our Model A and, in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on
Route 66.
              >
              > However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety
at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back.
              >
              > I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. I hesitated by her bed;
something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and
not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly
slipped out of the room with my music.
              >
              > The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd
called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger
boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope. Pasted

on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED.
              >
              > People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I
could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a phone and called home. All
I could hear on the other end was "Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead.'"
              >
              > When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a
boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that same night, the baby died. I
buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I fell
apart.
              >
              > For days I closeted myself. I felt that God had done me an
injustice. I didn't want to serve Him anymore or write gospel songs I just
wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then, as I
hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to

the afternoon I went to St. Louis . Something kept telling me to stay with
Nettie. Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that

day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died.
              >
              > From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him.
But still I was lost in grief. Everyone was kind to me, especially one
friend. The following Saturday evening he took me up to Maloney's Poro
College , a neighborhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun
crept through the curtained windows.
              >
              > I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over
the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I

could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, once in my
head they just seemed to fall into place: 'Precious Lord, take my hand, lead

me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, through the storm,
through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord,
lead me home.'
              >
              > The Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my
spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel
farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to
His restoring power.
              >
              > And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until
that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.
              >
              > -Tommy Dorsey
              >
              > For those too young to know who he is, Tommy Dorsey was a
well-known band leader in the 1930's and 40's.
              >
              > Did you know that Tommy Dorsey wrote this song? I surely
didn't. What a wonderful story of how God CAN heal the brokenhearted!
Beautiful, isn't it?
              >
              > Worth the reading, wasn't it? Think on the message for a
while. Thought you might like to share this, I just did.
              >

[mcgrissa]

Sep. 2, 2009 at 10:54 AM

~Hi Chey~ I do know who he is,but no,I didn't know that he wrote that! It was funny(?)that I stopped to read this journal today...that song has been in & out of my brain lately.We were just listening to it in the car last wkend.Jim was singing along to a "Jim Reeves" CD of old-fashioned hymns,like the 1 you wrote about & "I'll Fly Away." Now, I'll appreciate it more & I'll have Jim come read this soon,too! I use to have a book about the history of fav hymns & enjoyed reading it so much.I should dig that out again & see if this is in there.Thanks for sharing!  ~Cathy~