I’ve been on the receiving end of a great deal of advice over the years – and the best of it has actually stayed with me. Take, for example, the tip given to me a decade ago by the late Frances H. This long-time nursing-home resident informed me that our monthly Christian Music Hours could be considered successful only if the day's repertoire included “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art,” or “In the Garden.”
She was right: the residents always sing these hymns with particular gusto. And so each month, as I put our song list together, I always try to include at least one of these favorites.
Yesterday, we sang “In the Garden,” written by C. Austin Miles and published in 1912 – the same year our oldest resident was born.
His inspiration? The story of Mary Magdelane's encounter with the newly risen Jesus Christ, recorded in John 20. Meditating on this account, Miles realized that it not only describes one of the most important events in all of history; it also reflects the Christian’s daily walk with the Lord Jesus. And he proceeded to write one of the best-loved gospel hymns of all time:
In the Garden
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
He speaks and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
This wonderful hymn has been recorded by many singers, from Roy Rogers and Dale Evans to Willie Nelson, Doris Day and Elvis Presley. But we love to sing it with Tennessee Ernie Ford; if you listen to the recording above, you’ll understand why.
She was right: the residents always sing these hymns with particular gusto. And so each month, as I put our song list together, I always try to include at least one of these favorites.
Yesterday, we sang “In the Garden,” written by C. Austin Miles and published in 1912 – the same year our oldest resident was born.
His inspiration? The story of Mary Magdelane's encounter with the newly risen Jesus Christ, recorded in John 20. Meditating on this account, Miles realized that it not only describes one of the most important events in all of history; it also reflects the Christian’s daily walk with the Lord Jesus. And he proceeded to write one of the best-loved gospel hymns of all time:
In the Garden
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
He speaks and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
This wonderful hymn has been recorded by many singers, from Roy Rogers and Dale Evans to Willie Nelson, Doris Day and Elvis Presley. But we love to sing it with Tennessee Ernie Ford; if you listen to the recording above, you’ll understand why.
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