LBW 390, “I Love to Tell the Story”
Devotion
If today’s hymn, along with the many other old familiar hymns, is all we ever sang at the nursing home during Sunday worship services, that would be fine for Elsie. She is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. She loves to sing, and in her enthusiasm she sings the chorus louder than any of the other residents.
Familiar music is the light that illuminates her now cloudy and fading memory. And not just any music: for Elsie, hymns like “I Love to Tell the Story” spark memories untouched by the disease.
To hear her crackly voice, to see her eyes light up and a smile brighten her face reminds me how important it is for everyone to know this story well. In the waning hours of our lives when everything else begins to fade away, we can only hope that we will still remember this old, old story of Jesus and his love.
Prayer
God of love, may we find our comfort in you and share your story with others. Amen.