Sung by a dear and precious man
July 28, 2010 (Wednesday)
I'll never forget the worship service at a nursing home in Rockport on a Sunday afternoon almost 20 years ago. Rev. Al Bankert, then 95 years of age, resident of the home, widower, a former pastor of the Methodist church at Rockport, and a dear friend, sang "My Mother's Bible." Every word and note was clear, and the song was his own personal story, because when he was a boy he sat at his mother's knee as she read the Bible to him. His song was a beautiful tribute to his mother, and to the "Precious Book."
There's a dear and precious
Book,
tho' it's worn and faded
now,
Which recalls those happy
days of long ago;
When I stood at mother's
knee,
With her hand upon my brow,
And I heard her voice in
gentle tones and low.
Blessed Book, precious Book,
On thy dear old tear-stained
leaves I love to look;
Thou art sweeter day by day,
As I walk the narrow way
That leads at last to that
bright home above."
Brother Al is in heaven now. Some day I'll get to hear him sing again.