“Did you see all the new hymnals?” I said to my husband, Bob, pointing to the rows and rows of them lining the pews. It was a bright, beautiful May Day Sunday. Bob and I were standing in the back of the sanctuary at First Lutheran Church, waiting for the opening hymn to begin so we could head up to the front and serve communion.
“Sure did,” he said. “They look great.”
A few years earlier a new version of the Lutheran Book of Worship was published. Our church had finally purchased over a hundred of them for our congregation. Members were invited to buy a hymnal and dedicate it to the memory of a loved one. Bob and I jumped at the chance to dedicate one to my parents.
I thought back to all the times I’d stood beside my staunch Lutheran parents in church, listening to Dad belt out “A Mighty Fortress.” I wished we could sing together once again. But they were gone now. They’d passed away years ago and I missed them so much. Especially this time of year. May had always been the month of happy family celebrations: Mother’s Day, Dad’s birthday, my birthday, my daughter’s birthday, even our anniversary.
“Mom and Dad would have loved to see all the new books,” I whispered to Bob. “I just wish we could find the one we dedicated to them.
“There are too many to search through now,” Bob said. “We can try to find it later. You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “I just wish they could be here with me.”
“Me too,” he said.
The music started.
“Ready?” Bob whispered.
“Yes,” I said, grabbing a hymnal from the back pew so I could sing along. I flipped it open as we walked toward the front of the sanctuary. It landed on the dedication page.
I felt my pulse quicken. Tears filled my eyes. I blinked them away as I read the words, “In memory of George and Alice Neimeier from Bob and Leslie Morris.”
My mom and dad, by my side in church, as always.
