Precious Lord, Take My Hand was written in 1932 by Thomas A. Dorsey--no, not Tommy Dorsey. This Thomas was the music director at Chicago's Pilgrim Baptist Church, in the middle of leading a church service, when he received a telegram.
This story is a heart-render. The telegram informed him his wife, Nettie, had died in childbirth. The next day, the baby boy also died. Thomas Dorsey spiraled into a deep grief where he strongly doubted God and His goodness.
It wasn't long, though, until he received one of the greatest blessings a person can get--that pervading sense of peace beyond understanding. He felt drawn to the piano. There he wrote this beautiful hymn. He sang it to a friend, and the following Sunday the choir sang it in church.
Out of grief, a song that would melt the hearts of millions over the years. Including maybe Beyonce', who sang it at the Grammys this year. It was also Martin Luther King's favorite hymn, and one of the songs from the movie, Selma, this year.
Beautiful rendition by Elvis: CLICK HERE.
Father God, thank You for people who reach up to you through their grief. If only everyone realized they could do that. Amen.
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