When the Roll . . .
Friends recently invited us to spend a day with them at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Ray and I were excited that one of the possible dates was during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival, when the theme park brings in special music groups to perform. We were able to schedule our visit on one of the days when Dailey and Vincent were performing three shows. Our group of four was glad when Jamie Dailey announced during their first show of the day that they would be singing different songs in each show. We decided to go to all three.
As we watched the shows, I remembered a blog response I received a few months ago after I mentioned seeing Dailey and Vincent at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The mama told me that the group’s new tenor, Ben James, was a former student of hers when she taught school. While Ben was manning the merchandise booth after one of the shows, I went over to talk to him and tell him about my hearing from his former teacher. He said that she taught him art in the 7th grade, and she was one of his favorite teachers. He kindly posed for this photo for me to send to her.
I decided (without telling my companions) that if Jamie mentioned Gainesboro during one of the shows, I was going to yell, “Yay!” Early in the second show, he mentioned West Virginia and a few people yelled. That gave me encouragement. Not long afterward, Jamie did mention Gainesboro. I raised my hand and yelled out impulsively. I was very glad that Ray and my friend who was sitting beside me joined in. Jamie looked out and said, “There are three of you. I can’t see you. Who are you?” Ray yelled back, “Ray and Charlene Notgrass!” (Actually our friends are from nearby Cookeville.)
We have met Jamie on a few occasions, but we didn’t know if he would remember us. However, from the stage he said, “I know who you are. I know exactly who you are.” We were all smiles. While Jamie spent a few minutes shaking hands after the show, Ray and I went over to say, “Hello.” Jamie smiled in recognition when he spotted my tall husband.
We greeted one another, . . .
. . . and Jamie said, “I drive by your house all the time.” It was so much fun. It’s so easy to brighten someone’s day. Jamie’s kindness certainly brightened ours.
A highlight of Dailey and Vincent concerts is when they lay their instruments down and Jamie, Ben, Darrin Vincent, and bass singer Aaron McCune sing gospel in wonderful four-part harmony. On that Monday afternoon in Dollywood, they sang “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder.”
This is my prayer for every member of our family through every generation and my prayer for you and every member of your family: that when the roll is called up yonder, we’ll be there.
Therefore, since we have
so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us also lay aside every encumbrance
and the sin which so easily entangles us,
and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us,Â
fixing our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2