RaIsEd HaNdS... Dancing... singing...
TEARs... Shouts of Joy... Corporate Prayer... {PEACE}...
Tugging on my arm: "Ma'am, Ma'am," Jubilee always calls me Ma'am, even though I've told her my name dozens of times, "God gave me a new song and I want to sing it for you."
Lydia and I were in the church sanctuary waiting on everyone else to arrive. The blind teenager who depends upon a walker was already sitting down on the front row. "Sure, we'd love to hear it," I said, just as she began to sing:
"Angels watching over me...."
I couldn't understand all of the words, but I did catch those. She began softly, but as the song progressed, her intensity grew and grew until she finally grabbed onto her walker, held it tight, and pushed it forward allowing herself to drop to her knees with a loud thump. Instinctively, Lydia and I leaned forward to steady her, but she had everything under control.
With Jubilee's head now bowed, and arms raised high, the song continued: "His angels watch over me....His angels watch over you." Lydia and I continued to look down upon the girl now kneeling on the floor, completely silent, careful not to do anything to disturb her. The song became soft again until she, too, fell still and quiet. She then pushed herself up, holding onto her walker, and said aloud: "Thank you, Jesus, for giving me that song; it sure is a good song."
After helping guide her back into her seat, we told her how much we enjoyed her singing. She grabbed my arm once again and whispered: "Ma'am, angels watch over Hope. I'm praying God will help her talk." (notice, she can remember Hope's name, but not mine. hahaha!)
I lost my breath. If the Lord is going to answer anyone's prayers, I thought, surely it is the prayers of Jubilee. Then I hugged her. Tight.
"That really hurt my knees when I went down to sing," she said rubbing her knees with a giggle.
Lydia and I cracked up. In response, Jubilee leaned back in the chair, slapped her leg and laughed out loud with us.
Pretty soon the rest of our group lingered in, ready for worship to begin. But I couldn't stop thinking about that brief time with a young girl most of the world looks over without notice each day....how she had a song to sing and sang it. She didn't wait for the crowd to hear it. She didn't have a four piece band backing her up. Most of her words couldn't be understood, she didn't sing in key, and there was no rhythm to her simple song. But it ranked up as high as all of the most beautiful melodies Lydia and I have ever heard.
Yesterday, Jubilee arrived at our church service extra early again. This time, she asked if she could babysit Hope for me while we waited for everyone else to get there. She and I, together, pushed Hope around and around and around the little church.
"I'm a good babysitter," she said, out of breath from all the pushing and walking.
"You're the best," I replied, marveling at this girl so eager to serve others.
"I'm still praying that Hope will talk."
After wiping a tear and gathering my composure, I answered: "And I think He's gonna answer that prayer."
"Me too."
Oh, Father, give me Jubilee's heart of worship
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