“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight,” is another song I remember from childhood. Through the years I’ve heard some politically adjusted versions, but a simple child’s song says it all.

Many years ago, I made the decision to limit my amount of exposure to Country Music, some secular songs, too. Not because I was a Christian — though that certainly played a part of my understanding. It’s just that they made me sad. I chose not to be sad. Some people like to continue or resuscitate their misery and even use music and drinking as motivation to act out. I chose to change my actions. 

While working in the Nashville entertainment industry I was part of the new music that took country to the top and later birthed today’s genre. One of my first “charity” jobs — given to people who want to be in the business but don’t know enough to do much beyond manual labor — was to re-catalog the tape vault of a recording studio where Elvis’ former road engineer worked.  

“I’ve got tears in my ears from lying on my back in my bed while I cry over you,” was one of the titles I guffawed over as I registered the writer, original publisher, singer if known and whatever else the publishing company owner thought was important. Is it any wonder beer drinking, trainwreck, dog-dying, momma’s calling sad-sung-songs have been considered taboo in my repertoire? 

The first dozen or so times I sang the words to “How Great Thou Art” after giving my heart to Jesus, I cried as well. O the joy that sets before me in knowing “My Redeemer Lives,” and “Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow” if I “Trust and Obey.” God, I love you and the songs you’ve birthed through your people. Even some of the secular songs I believe were inspired by God. After all, He is the Great Creator even if dark spirits can influence people, too.  

“You saw me crying in the Chapel,” sung by Elvis Presley may not have been written by him, but not many people don’t recognize it. Or how about one of my old favorites, “Unchained Melody?” Consider the words unto God, “Oh my Love (Lord) my darling I’ve hungered for your touch, a long lonely time. Time goes by so slowly and time can do so much, are you still mine? I need your love, I need your love, God speed your Love, to me.” Well if that’s not a heart cry to God in hard times, I just don’t know one. 

Christian songs are not all solemn and forlorn, some can lift you when you are the most downtrodden. My father died within 24-hours of me getting home from Nashville shortly after he was baptized and accepted Christ on his deathbed. As a born-again Christian I chose the scripture readings and the songs for the funeral, both the service and the organists pieces to play as people filed in and out of the chapel. 

The only song I remember hearing on that day in 1990 was a glib little ditty, “When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.” When I first walked into my father’s hospital room moments after his death, I felt my spirit rejoicing and believe to this day it was dad’s ascending to heaven hanging around just long enough to say, “I see what you meant, Jesus is alive, and I am set free.” 

My heart rejoiced in knowing my father would spend eternity in heaven, and it is the memory of that song at his funeral — so joyous and carefree — that brings me up to where he dwells, while I still trod this earth. 

As a gift, the Creator God also has given me a tune or two, though not for public consumption — yet. Yes, music makes memories, and I praise God for the ones he’s given me.

VICKY BRANTON is Teche Life editor of The Daily Iberian.