The Hands and Heart of an Ancestor
Some days stand out from the others. On March 6, 2020, we laid my dad’s body to rest. After his funeral service, dad’s first cousin Beverly presented me with a family treasure. She said, since you are our family historian, you should have it. I was shocked at her generosity and thoughtfulness.
Beverly handed me a beautiful custom-made box containing the family Bible which belonged to Beverly and Dad’s great-grandfather and my great-great-grandfather, James Monroe Culpepper of Harris County, Ga. This Bible, printed in 1859, was one hundred eighty years old on that day. Today, we can add five years to that. Dad had revered this family Bible and spoke of it often. This Bible contains much of our family history.
This week, while preparing for a Culpepper family gathering in June to honor our grandparent’s 100th wedding anniversary, I searched this cherished Bible and found two items I had never noticed. One was a receipt from when my great-great-grandmother Frances Culpepper had made a purchase, and it had her name written on it and from whom the items were purchased. Some items purchased on the receipt were tea, coffee, buttons, etc. The second item found was a clipping from a newspaper of a song entitled “The Song of a Tired Servant.” The clipping is so tiny and can easily be overlooked.
This song touched my ancestor’s heart so much that their hands were moved to clip it and place it in the family’s treasured Bible. I began researching the song and found the author to be famous. Not so much for this song, but it is one most of us know and have memorized. The most famous song lyrics Anna Bartlett Warner wrote (1827-1915) is “Jesus Loves Me.” How often have I sung this powerful song knowing little to nothing about its writer? Anna’s sister, Susan Bogert Warner (1819-1885), is just as famous for her literary works.
Back to the clipping. This song focuses on the blessings and buffetings of following Christ as a disciple. Here are the words…
The Song of the Tired Servant
“One more day’s work for Jesus, one less of life for me; But heaven is nearer, and Christ is dearer than yesterday to me;
His love and light fill all my soul tonight.
One more day’s work for Jesus. How glorious is my King! Tis joy, not duty, to speak His beauty.
My soul mounts on the wing, at the mere thought how Christ her life hath bought.
One more day’s work for Jesus; Sweet, sweet the work has been, to tell the story to show the glory, Where Christ’s flock enter in.
How it did shine in this poor heart of mine.
One more day’s work for Jesus in hope, in faith in prayer
His Word I have spoken His bread I have broken.
To souls faint with despair and bade them flee, to Him who hath saved me
One more day’s work for Jesus, yes, tis a weary day, but heaven shines clearer, and rest comes nearer.
At each step of the way and Christ in all, before His face, I fall.”
I will not elaborate on the words of this song as they powerfully speak for themselves. I agree with the author, and her words are true. But what of the fortunate timing of my discovery? As the author’s words are true to me, the same words were true almost two centuries ago when my ancestor held this tiny clipping and placed it away where all truth abounds, the Word of God.
It’s as if my great-great-grandmother or grandfather, without knowing, handed me a note of inspiration—a note from their hand to mine containing words that blessed and encouraged them, words they wanted to see again, so they tucked it away for future reference. I doubt they realized how far into the future that would be.
After years of following Christ, however imperfectly, I’ve learned not to believe in coincidences but in the flawless timing of my perfect Savior…
Dirt Road Diaries 