The Amazing 80th Birthday Gift
For forty years Frances had found solace in the song “My Redeemer”. She first heard it around the time she lost her middle son in a tragic DUI accident where the motorist had collided with Frances’ son and the bicycle he was riding. Knowing the love she had for that song, her two boys made an audio tape of it that they recorded right off the airwaves of a local radio station. She had kept it close ever since.
Now, forty years later and after countless replays, the tape had become scratchy and shopworn. Francis asked her sons if they could replace it. “Sure” they said. They thought that it would make a great present for their mother’s approaching 80th birthday. The search for a new recording was on, and though trying their best, the brothers could not find a rendition of the song that matched the voice on that forty-year-old tape.
Then the unexpected…One day while driving, one of the sons heard “My Redeemer” on the radio and the voice was the same one that they had recorded some forty years ago. He excitedly called the station which provided the name of the singer. A Google search revealed the email address of the artist. He was immediately contacted with a request for a copy of the recording.
Weeks went by without a response to the email. A telephone call was placed that reached the singer at home. He apologized for his tardiness in responding. He explained that he had been on the road performing and had just returned from a trip out west. He said he would certainly get a new recording in the mail in time for the 80th birthday.
As the telephone conversation continued between the two men, Frances’ son told the artist that if he ever got to Pennsylvania in his travels, to please let him know so that he could bring his mother to the performance. The singer, a Virginian, said he’d be performing in a small church in Pennsylvania in about a month. Frances’ son was stunned as it turned out that the small church was only 15 minutes away from him!! Then more of the unbelievable was revealed. The Virginian read off the address of his contact person in Pennsylvania who was responsible for arranging the performance at the church. Frances’ son found himself speechless. The address belonged to his next-door neighbor!
On the day of the performance in Pennsylvania, Frances was picked up by the family. As they drove to the event, they assured her that though unusual, their attendance at a different church would be fun. The musical performance would be great and a welcome addition to her 80th birthday celebration.
She got a front-row seat, and as she settled in, she had no idea of the surprise that was in store for her. When the vocalist from Virginia began to sing “My Redeemer” she turned to her son and exclaimed “That’s him! That’s the voice on my tape!”
What a surprise birthday present! Not only had Frances received a new recording of her favorite song, but an actual live performance by the artist as well. After the performance, they all went out and celebrated and have stayed in touch ever since.
You have to ask yourself, were these events coincidences…or the work of a higher “arranger”?