Comments on: Spiritual Experiences with Hymns http://www.bethanyjensen.com/2007/04/20/spiritual-experiences-with-hymns/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:43:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Elizabeth Garner http://www.bethanyjensen.com/2007/04/20/spiritual-experiences-with-hymns/#comment-162 Elizabeth Garner Sun, 22 Apr 2007 22:59:08 +0000 http://www.bethanyjensen.com/index.php/2007/04/20/135/#comment-162 When I think of spiritual experiences with hymns, I think of my cousin, Heather. Her story of an experience with a hymn is referenced in the Primary 6 manual lesson about Job. Here it is from the manual: Tell about a girl named Heather Erickson. She had such a severe disease that she had very little control of her body. The only way she could communicate was by her family asking her questions. If the answer was “yes,” she would look directly at the speaker, and if the answer was “no,” she would blink. Heather and her family became very good at communicating this way. Heather’s special love for Jesus, in spite of her physical handicaps, was often expressed in her communications. One day her speech therapist asked Heather what her favorite song was. Heather became excited and was anxious for her therapist to know what song it was that she loved most. After three days of searching and asking questions, the song was finally identified. It was “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today” (Hymns, no. 227). The last two lines, “And Jesus listening can hear / The songs I cannot sing,” was Heather’s favorite part. Her therapist asked, “Heather, is that it? Is that what you like about the song? Is it what you want me to know? That Jesus is listening and He can hear the songs you cannot sing?” Heather lifted her head and looked her therapist straight in the eyes with excitement and yet almost relief evident on her face. The testimony had been borne. (Adapted from Bruce and Joyce Erickson, When Life Doesn’t Seem Fair [1995], pp. 49–55.) Although I was fairly young when this event happened, I remember my aunt calling my mom to tell about it. Not only were we all touched by the specific phrase Heather liked best in her favorite song, but also by the love shown by her therapist. I know this especially touched my aunt and now that I am a mother myself, I understand the gratitude we have for those who love and teach our children. My cousin's therapist went through the children's hymnbook one song at a time, asking Heather if each song was her favorite, only to get blinks indicating no for the entire book. She then moved on to the regular hymnbook and went through song by song until reaching "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today," hymn number 227. As mentioned, this process took three days. When the favorite song was discovered, not only did it let Heather know how important and loved she was, but she was able to share her great love for the Lord with her family and therapist. Although Heather passed away at the young age of 11, her testimony has been shared with and touched many lives. When I think of spiritual experiences with hymns, I think of my cousin, Heather. Her story of an experience with a hymn is referenced in the Primary 6 manual lesson about Job. Here it is from the manual:

Tell about a girl named Heather Erickson. She had such a severe disease that she had very little control of her body. The only way she could communicate was by her family asking her questions. If the answer was “yes,” she would look directly at the speaker, and if the answer was “no,” she would blink. Heather and her family became very good at communicating this way. Heather’s special love for Jesus, in spite of her physical handicaps, was often expressed in her communications. One day her speech therapist asked Heather what her favorite song was. Heather became excited and was anxious for her therapist to know what song it was that she loved most. After three days of searching and asking questions, the song was finally identified. It was “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today” (Hymns, no. 227).

The last two lines, “And Jesus listening can hear / The songs I cannot sing,” was Heather’s favorite part. Her therapist asked, “Heather, is that it? Is that what you like about the song? Is it what you want me to know? That Jesus is listening and He can hear the songs you cannot sing?” Heather lifted her head and looked her therapist straight in the eyes with excitement and yet almost relief evident on her face. The testimony had been borne. (Adapted from Bruce and Joyce Erickson, When Life Doesn’t Seem Fair [1995], pp. 49–55.)

Although I was fairly young when this event happened, I remember my aunt calling my mom to tell about it. Not only were we all touched by the specific phrase Heather liked best in her favorite song, but also by the love shown by her therapist. I know this especially touched my aunt and now that I am a mother myself, I understand the gratitude we have for those who love and teach our children. My cousin’s therapist went through the children’s hymnbook one song at a time, asking Heather if each song was her favorite, only to get blinks indicating no for the entire book. She then moved on to the regular hymnbook and went through song by song until reaching “There is Sunshine in My Soul Today,” hymn number 227. As mentioned, this process took three days. When the favorite song was discovered, not only did it let Heather know how important and loved she was, but she was able to share her great love for the Lord with her family and therapist. Although Heather passed away at the young age of 11, her testimony has been shared with and touched many lives.

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