A book I am drawn to frequently is titled, “Amazing Grace,” written by Kenneth W. Osbeck, It is a devotion book of hymn stories. I find it inspiring to learn about individuals who wrote hymns in earlier days. The author also adds additional information to muse over.
The other day I read about the song, “Leave It There,” by Charles A. Tindley, 1851-1933. The scripture verse associated with it is Psalm 42:5: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42 has always been a favorite in helping me put all things in perspective. So, naturally, I was drawn to this hymn I don't think I've ever heard. I’ve noted two of the verses plus the chorus:
“If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold, and you have to get along with meager fare, just remember, in His word, how He feeds the little bird–Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
“When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on, and your body bends beneath the weight of care, He will never leave you then; He’ll go with you to the end–Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Chorus: Leave it there, leave it there; take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out–Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”
I pulled Charles Tindley up on the web and discovered he was born near Berlin, Maryland, and has written several hymns, including "We Shall Overcome," "Stand by Me," and "I’ll Understand it By and By."
Charles Tindley was one of the most famous African American Methodist ministers of his era and has been called “one of the founding fathers of African American gospel music.” During one of his pastorates, a worried parishioner heard him say, “Put all your troubles in a sack, take ‘em to the Lord, and leave ‘em there.” It was the spark that prompted the pastor to develop this thought and pen the words and music of this gospel hymn in 1916.
His composition “I’ll Overcome Someday” is credited by some observers to be the basis for the U.S. Civil Rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.” Tindley was the first hymn writer to have a hymn copyrighted.
Tindley’s father was a slave, but his mother was free. Charles worked in the same fields as his father for most of his young life. There is a museum in the town of Berlin on Tindley, and descendants still live in the Berlin area in a part of town called Tindleytown.
How fascinating to learn about the lives of hymn writers. Thank you, Mr. Tindley, for writing a song that encourages us to, “Take our burdens to the Lord and leave it there.”
I thought we could all use something cool to help us through the summer. Hope the picture above and below help!
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Great post! Elaine and I have been using that same book as a basis for our evening devotional time. It is quite humbling to hear the stories of these songs and those who wrote them and how often a good deal of hardship and pain went into the forming of the writers to enable them to write their lyrics. I don't remember the song that you referenced in this post so I'm going to go back and check it out. Thanks for the inspiration.
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