Parson to Person - A whispering hope

Let me introduce myself as I am a first-time writer for this column. My name is Nancy Sutherland, and I am the pastor at Cottonwood United Methodist Church, which is located west of Wayland.

You can see our church as you make the curve down to Coppick on Highway 78, sitting on the top of the hill with the beautiful steeple reaching for the sky. We have Sunday worship service at 9 a.m., and children and adult Sunday School at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend our services at Cottonwood United Methodist Church.

As I write this message today I am thinking of my Grandmother Pounds who taught me to be a strong woman when I grew up and to believe in God. As I write, I also think of Hebrews 6:19, ?This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.?

As I grew up, my strength was in my body, but in my soul was my strength as it grew believing in the Lord our Savior. I am where I am today because of my grandmother and my parents. They taught me that no matter how difficult life can be, God will be there with me. He will guide me through the trials and tribulations of life and He will forgive me of my sins. That?s why he died on the cross, to forgive all of us of our sins.

My grandmother had a favorite song we used to sing numerous times. This song was written by a man named Septimus Winner. He was born into a musical family and was the seventh child in his family. His father built violins and other instruments so early in Septimus? age he began to learn and appreciate music. He and one of his brothers formed a music publishing business. By age 20, he was running his own music shop and teaching violin, guitar and banjo. He was self-taught. One of the numerous songs he wrote was, ?Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?? But ?Whispering Hope? was his last composition and was based on Hebrews 6:19.

Whispering Hope

Soft as the voice of an angel,

Breathing a lesson unheard.

Hope with a gentle persuasion,

Whispers her comforting word.

Wait till the darkness is over,

Wait till life?s tempest is done.

Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,

After the shower is gone.

Whispering hope,

O how welcome thy voice.

Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

We need to rejoice in the Lord daily in our lives. When you feel down and out, and feel sorrow in your soul, think of ?Whispering Hope?. It will take that sorrow away and comfort you.