Jesus Holds Our Pieces Together
I grew up on country music. My daddy was a big fan. He even played it all night — as in while we slept. He passed away sixteen years ago today, so it is an especially good day to remember.
As a child and teen in the 60s, I would never have admitted to liking country music, but I was familiar with many of the songs. Truth be told I liked many of them, too.
Many years ago, Ray and I went to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, to see a tribute to Patsy Cline, a major country star who died in a plane crash in 1963 at age 30. We attended the show with our friends Denny and Nancy Landis. Denny was a big fan of Patsy Cline. It is always special to share with another person something that means a great deal to him or her.
Denny’s joy, the history and beauty of the Ryman, and Cline’s beautiful and timeless music, combined with Daddy’s love of country music, made for a wonderful evening. It is a wonderful memory still.
One of Patsy Cline’s most enduring songs is “I Fall to Pieces.” Last week I stopped in at a local thrift store. When I went to the counter with my two 99-cent boxes of vintage tree ornaments, I noticed a pretty red jacket in a display high off the floor behind the counter.
Naturally, in a thrift store, it was one of a kind. A bit sheepishly, I asked if someone could tell me the size and price. The man behind the counter gladly climbed up to check.
As the helpful man came down, he said that the mannequin is their Patsy Cline mannequin. She falls to pieces.
When our six-year-old granddaughter heard me tell that story, she wanted to know what falling to pieces meant. I don’t have to explain that to you. Surely you know what it means to fall to pieces. You might have fallen to pieces today.
Praise God that He sent the baby in the manger to hold us–and all things–together.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-17
Oh! I died laughing! Ha!
But boy am I glad “…in Him all things hold together.”