“A Young Boy Remembers Singing His Praise”

(Written by Rex Herndon)

My dad was a devout man of God, who was born in abject poverty, without the benefit of an education.  He struggled to read and write, but he faithfully served the Lord to the best of his abilities and set a Godly example for his family.  I don’t recall him singing outside of our regular Church Services, but I shall never forget his unique ability to whistle the wonderful gospel songs we sang in Church. 

One of my fondest memories is riding along with him in our old red GMC truck, and he would begin to whistle a familiar gospel song.  Although I was very young, I knew the words to many of those songs, and as he whistled, I would begin to sing. 

Songs like…

“Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! 

O, what a foretaste of Glory Divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God,  Born of His Spirit, 

Washed in his Blood.” 

I’m not sure I fully understood the meaning of the words I sang, but as dad whistled, I sang…..

“This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.”

There was no piano, drums or guitars, no flashing colored lights or fog machines as are found in many Churches today.  Just a poor man dressed in well worn bib overalls and a young boy, riding over a dusty and bumpy Ozark road, whistling and singing praise to God.  Those moments linger in my memory, and the message of those wonderful songs still speak to my spirit.

I don’t know if Dad is whistling in heaven where he abides, but if he does, I look forward to joining him there, and again singing a magnificent hymn that brings praise to God and glorifies Jesus Christ.  My hope springs eternal! 

Some will smile sympathetically at me and think how I have not kept up with the times.   Maybe so, but the great hymns of the Church and the message they convey, will always be to me an invaluable treasure.