This morning we sang an old familiar song that we haven’t sung for a long time.
We were invited to stand, and as soon as we began the chorus, my mind went back to my parents living room ~ when I was a preschooler ~ and my aunts and some other relatives stood in a large doorway singing this song.
Bringing in the Sheaves
Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve; Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
- Refrain: Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves; Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
This is where the memory happened, and I must have been smiling, because my Aunt Julia – who was just behind me – tapped me on the shoulder. When I turned around and saw her smile, I knew the same memory had come to her.
That day, back in the living room, I sang loudly, “We shall come with Joycie bringing in the sheaves.”
I had an Aunt Joyce who I called Joycie at the time – and in my young mind I thought we were singing about someone called Joycie. 🙂
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Today ~ as we kept singing ~ I had trouble concentrating on the real words because of the funny memory.
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Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows, Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze; By and by the harvest, and the labor ended, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
- Refrain: Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves; Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master, Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves; When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
- Refrain: Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves; Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
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Our sermon was on the parable of the sower:
- Be faithful as a sower of the Word
- Realize that your heart is the soil.
- Is your heart receptive or hardened to the Word?
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Memory ~ what a wonderful treasure.
What a sweet memory — and funny too! Reminds me of the child that sang “Right in the corner where you are…” instead of “Brighten the corner where you are…”
It is fun to hear the words that little children “hear” when they sing hymns.
What a positively precious memory, Doris! So glad you sang that song so you had the opportunity to remember —
Aren’t memories a wonderful thing? ~ usually.
What a wonderful memory! And what wonderful connections children make when they don’t quite understand what the words really are. There’s a phrase in the Star Spangled Banner “in the dawn’s early light;” I think I was in high school when I finally understood what “donzerly light” is!
It seems that everyone has a memory of a song they misunderstood. 🙂
Most kids sing “bringing in the cheese.”
I hadn’t heard that one. 🙂
what a fun memory! too cute ~ 🙂
And if I forget it, my two aunts will remind me. 🙂
That’s a good memory and story Doris and sounds like you heard a good sermon!