man sitting on porch

I’m sharing one of Pap’s original songs with you today.

As we worked in the yard yesterday the song popped into my head and went round and round for the rest of the day.

“You Need a Savior”

I know your weary I’d like to help you
You need someone to help you through
For your my brother or your my sister
I’d like to be a friend to you

You need a brother you need a sister
You need someone who’s kind and true
To help you through

When life is falling so hard upon you
It seems to you there is no help
We all are needful we all need someone
We just can’t make it all by ourselves

We need a Savior someone who’s faithful
We need a brother, sister too
To help us through

His name is Jesus and yes he loves you
He is a Savior strong and true
He’ll help you through

—Jerry Marshall Wilson

One time during a church service a lady that was down on her luck, mostly because of her own doing, gave a pleading testimony about having no hope.

She was connected to folks in the church who had repeatedly tried to help her and as I said her issues were mostly brought on by her own foolishness. In other words her testimony made for a very awkward moment of silence as everyone wondered what to say. As the stillness grew longer the pastor quickly dismissed the service.

About the time I was looking around thinking somebody ought to say something to her I noticed Pap practically chasing the woman out of the church. By the time I reached them I heard him tell her there was hope—God could heal her heart and take care of her troubles and people would help her along the way. She said she wished that was true, but it just wasn’t and turned and left.

Words I aspire to live by:

I know your weary I’d like to help you
You need someone to help you through
For your my brother or your my sister
I’d like to be a friend to you
.

Tipper

Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox

Similar Posts

22 Comments

  1. No truer words have ever been sung. Pap reminds me so much of my father in law especially in the picture, he looks to be wearing a rental uniform shirt along with a cap. My father in law always had his uniform clothes on and wore a hat except at church. He believed that under no circumstance did a man wear a hat inside a church . He loved playing his Gibson guitar, singing and his God. Everyone that knew him loved and respected him.

  2. So beautiful and timely and true. What a wonderful man your Pap was, is.
    My newest favorite song. Thank you.

  3. So sorry that I missed knowing your Pap. My father-in-law was such a man. Soft spoken with powerful words. At his funeral I said that those who had known him were blessed. What a blessing Pap was to all who knew him. I remember a Gaither song with the words that love wasn’t love until you give it away. Powerful!

  4. Your Pap was probably moved by the Lord to say that to her. Though she didn’t respond at that moment, it will stick with her. Everything the Lord does is good! ❤

  5. People who are in God’s hands are God’s hands. God works through his people. I believe Pap was one of His people. My Daddy was another. A man of few words but when he spoke, it was profound. Often it sounded as though God was talking directly to you in the words of men. I think it was!
    People ask for help to continue to do what got them into the trap in the first place. Pap offer the woman the help she needed not what she wanted. She left unhappy! Pap earned another star!

    Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBNBChVKadA

  6. So beautiful! So true! Thank you, dear Tipper, for this perfect start to a Sunday morning shut in at home.

  7. I thought of something while ago that made me chuckle that I heard in our Church about 45 yrs. past. The preacher is long gone who said this but he got to talking about women wearing makeup and said he thought an old barn looked better with a little fresh paint on it.

  8. Beautiful song. I am enjoying the last few days of good weather. God can cheer us up if we listen to his words. Nothing better than opening all the doors and letting the fresh air in.

  9. Your Dad knew. In ourselves we are not sufficienr. It is a relief to accept that as true. As the apostle Paul wrote “our sufficiency is of God.” That is, we are made sufficient by his help. It isn’t unusual to encounter things we are not big enough to handle. But those who know him know he will be there to help, not to take over and do our part but to come alongside and add his strength to ours and make us able. How he honors us in so doing.

    I have wondered about the depth of meaning in the story of the ‘bread and fish upon the fire’ in the old song “Come and Dine”. He directed them where to fish (on “the right side”) but they did the work. Yet when they came to land there were fish already on the fire. Still, he said, “Bring of the fish ye have now caught.” Sure he could have provided all, miraculously, but how then could they have been a partner?

  10. Ouch!!! I’m sure your Pap felt inspired to say those kind words to that troubled lady and was rebuffed. How can you help someone like that?
    Beautiful song!!!

  11. Tipper,
    You hardly ever hear shouting in Church anymore. When I was just a little thing, I remember Birtha Mason shouting by the time the quoir got in position. She was Royal Mason’s wife, some Kin to Ronnie Mason’s Colonial Store. He took over when his daddy died, Bob Mason. He had one older brother, Hal and one younger brother, Lanney. A sister, Gaye, who speaks to me every time we meet at Ingles Grocery Store. Ronnie graduated one year ahead of me, but I know him well, and his family. His mama is still alive and her name is Stella. …Ken

  12. The sermon at Mass this morning was about Jesus raising his friend Lazarus… This woman you mention reminds me of Lazarus’ sister Martha…. “Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to Jesus, “Lord, by
    now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not
    tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone.
    And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you
    always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that
    you sent me.” And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come
    out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was
    wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.””

    …and to you my Brothers and Sisters…believe in the Lord…Amen!

  13. That song was lovely! I’m missing my brothers and sisters in Christ this morning. I worship and praise my Lord here at home but I surely miss gathering at church. I know that God’s hand is in these dark days and I pray for a revival of faith and a great coming of people to Jesus.
    Thank you for brightening my early Sunday morning!

  14. I didn’t have to wonder, I knew it would be Pap. I think he’s the finest man I ever knew. Always uplifting.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *