Just Want to Tell You I'm Thankful

I'll never forget the day that this song was introduced to me. We were adding new songs to our chorus book at church. There was a couple who'd started attending after relocating from out of state. They had a few songs that they particularly loved from their former church. I knew a couple of them but this one I was unfamiliar with. Sis. Monroe offered to teach it to me but the catch? She was tone deaf. She would try to sing a phrase and I would play it back. She would tell me whether I needed to go up or down on particular words/notes.

My shirt was soaked with perspiration by the time we got to the end. But the result was this beautiful song that fast became a favorite. We might have re-written part of it because I have never found these exact verses or the tune anywhere. But it has blessed me many times over the years and God's presence would certainly come and hover over a particular little chapel in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, whenever we sang it. I can still hear my parent's voices with Dad raspily belting out the melody and Mom's loud but steady alto joining in.

Just want to tell You I'm thankful for all that You have done;
For the stars and the moonlight and the setting sun;
And when my work on earth is through, I'm coming home to be with You;
Just want to tell you I'm thankful, that's all.

I'm even thankful for the trials that You send from day to day;
For they mellow my spirit and teach me how to pray;
Let me cling a little closer to Thee lest I fall;
Just want to tell you I'm thankful, that's all.

Just want to tell You I'm thankful each moment of the day;
For You never cease to love me or hear me when I pray;
And when I find it hard to stand, You're there to lend a helping hand;
Just want to tell you I'm thankful, that's all.

I'm even thankful for the times when Your Word has pierced my heart;
Showing all those imperfections from which I must depart;
And if I love you first and always, You won't let me fall;
Just want to tell you I'm thankful, that's all.
Just want to tell you I'm thankful, that's all.

Know the Meaning of the Song

From my file of writings over the past year...

"I learned a hard lesson this past week. Through the years of my "singing career" (loL!) I don't think I have ever sung a song of which I didn't understand the meaning. I am usually very careful about that, in fact, because I feel like music is as much a ministry as anything. If I don't know what I'm singing, how can I communicate the mood and temper of the song effectively?

Two Sundays ago, I was on the schedule for singing. I had actually been asked to sing as a pinch hitter for someone else the previous Sunday night. But when I went to the church basement to jot down the words and find the right key to an oldie, I got through the first two lines and was swept up in a gale of tears. Too many memories of my parents attached to those old songs. I couldn't do it.

Knowing that I was on the roster for next week, I determined that I would have to learn a completely new song with no sentimental ties. I'd heard a song by Ivan Parker on Tony's MP3 player that seemed like a really great one for Sunday morning worship. I brought it up on Rhapsody, printed off the words and began to learn it. All week long, I practiced. It had a lovely tune and a few unexpected chords. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Saturday night, I took the lyrics in and showed Tony. "What exactly does this mean?" I asked. He must have been engrossed in work because I don't remember him giving me a clear answer. So, making sure I wasn't singing something TOTALLY off the wall, I went and consulted a few versions of the Bible. It sounded okay and seemed to have some great phrases of encouragement.

Sunday morning came. I was very shocked and nervous to find out 5 or 10 minutes pre-special that Garren Wolfe was in the congregation! But the Lord calmed my nerves and I was able to proceed. I prefaced the song with a quote and some admonition and when it was over I felt like the special went well.

Fast forward this story six days. We get a call that shakes our world and dumps it upside down in 30 seconds flat. That night, still reeling from the news of the day, we went to town to get some groceries to make it through the weekend. On the way home I turn on the MP3 player and the song that I sang the previous Sunday morning came on. I sat and listened. Would you believe the exact meaning and words of that song came to life? It was like a light had been turned on and I could see clearly what the song writer was trying to say.

I Will Lead The Blind
sung by Ivan Parker
(from the CD: UNDER GRACE)
Verse 1:I had lost my way, I was stumbling in the dark
My joy was gone, and misery set in
I cried out to the Lord, I can’t make it on my own
That is when I heard these words from Him
He said...

Chorus:I will lead the blind
by ways they have not known
Along unfamiliar paths, I will guide them
I will turn the darkness into light before them
And make the rough places smooth
These are the things that I will do

Verse 2: So when your days are dark
and you don’t know where to turn
And you feel your night of sorrow never ends
There is one who loves you
no matter what you’ve done
He’s given you this promise, He’s your friend
He said...

Chorus:I will lead the blind
by ways they have not known
Along unfamiliar paths, I will guide them
I will turn the darkness into light before them
And make the rough places smooth
These are the things that I will do


Prior to this revelation I'd understood enough to get the basic meaning of this song. After all, I've had recent days of darkness and uncertainty. And I know that God has promised to be my guide through all my journeys in life. On those days, for the most part, I'd been able to share my pain and sorrow with someone else who'd walked that road ahead of me. But on this particular night when we were at the end of ourselves, could turn to no one and felt utterly and completely helpless, the words of the chorus came to life. I had not gone down this path before. I didn't personally know anyone else who had. Everything looked dark and scary. The road seemed incredibly rough and difficult. But as I sat and soaked in the words of the song, I found out I have God's promise - that He will lead me when I can't see the next step; He will guide me through the fog of uncertainity; He will kick the rocks and stones out of my way lest I stumble. As long as I cling to His hand, He is there to help me. And with Christ, I can do all things. How sweet to rest in Him!"

Lesson learned? Don't sing a song you don't know the meaning of - or be prepared to find out.