“The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.”
Amazing Grace by John Newton, Verse 4
Yesterday I visited my husband who has been declining with Parkinson’s Disease and vascular dementia. Last year at this time he was walking with a walker but with that halted gait typical of the disease and had experienced seisures. By September he was in a nursing home and transitioned to a wheel chair. Yesterday I arrived to visit and he was transitioned to bed. We are nearing the end of the journey. John Newton in his famous hymn Amazing Grace talks of Jesus as being his shield and portion as long as life endures.
I thought of the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus. I focused on it recently but reviewed the story of the author, Joseph Scriven. He was born in Ireland but on the eve of his wedding, his fiancee drowned. He immigrated to Canada and dedicated himself to helping the poor. Hearing that his mother was dying, he sent her a poem that became the words of this hymn. Please enjoy it as we pray for people who are traveling through rough seas today.
My husband will enjoy this English/Swahili version that I will share with him when I visit. I pray it blesses you too as you face the challenges of your day. “The Lord is risen” and present, even today!
On the Way to Wonder 