Yesterday we went to the hospital and were told the devastating news that Mum’s cancer is widespread and that she doesn’t have long left.

Mum and Dad handled the consultation with real dignity and strength and there was a great peace in the room as we heard the findings of the tests. We had the chance to pray together afterwards and then walked out of the hospital humming “Bless the Lord Oh my soul..” (In, characteristic of my parents, soft three part harmony.)

Later on, my best friend Jen popped round to comfort me. As soon as we went into the lounge and sat down we heard a loud rendition of “Abide with me” start up outside. None of us could work out where it was coming from. We checked the TV (off) the laptop (not playing) and listened to see if it was coming from next door.
In the end, Jon went outside, expecting that someone had put a speaker with it playing right outside our house.

But he went out to find nothing and no-one there.
All of us kept asking each other “Can you hear this?!” We all thought we were going a bit mad.

But somehow, carried on the wind, we heard the whole hymn.
It was so comforting for me and felt as though angels had been placed in the breeze to sing it to me. (Although perhaps it was coming from the church across the canal? We could not tell. And we have never heard anything like it before…)

Thank you God that you do abide with us during days when the sun shines and days when we struggle to find the light.

The words of the lovely hymn we heard in full are here:

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea.
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee.
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.