Month: March 2017

Because He Lives

Posted on by chel2010sbcglobalnet

5/20/15

“Because he-e Lives I can face tomorrow…..” I cringed at mom’s rather off-key rendition of the classic hymn. I looked over as she grasped the open Hymnal to her heart, eyes closed.

I rolled my eyes. Mom sure knows how to embarrass me. Why does she sing so loudly?? And at church at that.

Because He Lives was mom’s favorite hymn. She’d sing while cleaning or doing the dishes. Or even on road trips. No one sang that song quite like mom. She even changed the words.

“How sweet to hold a newborn baby and feel the pride and joy she gives.”

It would never fail. A whole congregation could sing “he” but mom, she always had to sing “she.”

I asked her one day, “Mom, why do you change the words of that song?”

She put her arm on my shoulder and pulled me in for a hug.

“Rachel, I’ve never had a boy. I don’t know that joy. But I know the joy that you and your sister brought me when you were born.”

I remember her warm embrace and the memories of that day. My mind snaps back to reality…..

Things are different. Mom is sick. Cancer. Hospice. Now I kneel by her bed grasping her hand, singing her favorite song, for the last time with her.

“And then as death, gives way to victory,” My voice trembles. “I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.”

Days pass.

Then, Victory for Mom!

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Next, I stand at the front of the church where mom has sung off-key so many times. This time, “Because He Lives” seems almost bitter. Tears streak down my face as I can barely muster the words….I blink my eyes trying to keep myself from crying….but my surroundings are making it difficult. Casket down front. Church packed with loved ones.

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And now, I sit at the piano, five years later. The congregation is singing “Because He Lives.” Tears moisten my eyes. It will never be the same without mom’s off-key grandeur. But I can’t hear the song without pondering how God has used it in my family’s life since mom’s homegoing.

Dad, as a Hospice Chaplain, has sang this song to countless patients, encouraging them that they can take each day as it comes “Because He lives.”

My sister is pursuing a degree in Christian Counseling, which is out of her comfort zone, but “Because He Lives, all fear is gone.”

And I received Christ as my Savior, finally letting go of my pride and fear. It was through the loss of my mom that God got ahold of my heart. I can now say that “Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow.”

After playing the last chord, I dab at my eyes, and thank God for the reminder of His faithfulness during the difficult times of change. He’s alive and that’s never going to change!

 

Who is Chel?

Posted on by chel2010sbcglobalnet

You may be wondering….who is Chel? Many of you know me as Rachel or by “one of the Worsham girls,” usually when my sister and I’s names might be confused.

Or maybe you know me simply by my last name “Worsham.” Some friends call me “Rach” which is truly one of my favorite nicknames. ❤

When I was in High School, my mom called me Rachey, which i detested! But Ironically, my junior year of college, I had a room mate that called me Rachey, and by then, I was ok with it…. I had developed several more embarrassing nicknames than that.

My freshmen year, I had a room mate named “Rachel” but she gladly took on the nickname “Rae.”  So together, we were Rachel Rae. I know, know, super creative!

My mailbox mate was also named Rachel. When we finally met one day, We were both like, “Hey Rachel!”

By my Sophomore year in college, a christian college at that, I came to a conclusion! Rachel is a super popular name. One day, seriously, walking to and from class, I heard “Rachel” 3 different times. Do you know how awkward it is to turn to see who’s calling only to find out you don’t know that person.

I was visiting with my friend Lacey about this serious conundrum. For there, were times that my friends were trying to get my attention and it seemed that I had learned to tune out my name…

So we devised a plan..a new nickname. It needed to be different. Rach was too obvious. We needed something like would stand out.

“What about Chel?” Lacey asked.

And it stuck! Yes, Chel would be my new nickname. And to this very day, Lacey still calls me Chel! My Sis knows to get my attention it never fails to call me Chel either.

When I was deciding on my blog name, Through Rachel’s Lens or Through Rach’s Lens just didn’t have the same ring as Through Chel’s Lens. And I decided to go with my classic nickname. And now you know the Chel Story.