Singing With Soapsuds

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, September 6.

By Andrew McChesney

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ngel opened her mouth and sang with her whole heart as she washed the dishes in soapy water at home. As she sang about God’s love, she felt like she was standing at the throne of God in heaven.

Then Mom walked into the kitchen with a very angry look on her face. She opened her mouth and roared, “Don’t sing those songs while you’re at home! You are only a Seventh-day Adventist at school. At home, you belong to my church.”

Angel closed her mouth. She stopped singing and looked sadly at Mom.

The trouble with Mom started when Angel was transferred to an Adventist school in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Mom hadn’t wanted Angel to study at the school. She had wanted the girl to go to a school that belonged to her church. But a friend of Dad had recommended the Adventist school, and Dad had insisted that Angel go there.

At the school, Angel received a black songbook. On the cover, the words “Christ in Song” were written in gold letters. The schoolchildren sang from the songbook for worship services, and Angel immediately fell in love with the songs. Her favorite song was called, “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.”

Angel brought the songbook home and sang from it as she spent special time with God in the mornings and evenings. She sang from it while doing her chores. She sang as she swept the floor. She sang as she washed her clothes. She was washing the dishes and singing “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” when Mom burst into the kitchen and ordered her to be quiet.

After that, Angel stopped singing around the house. But she remembered her favorite song as she prayed for Mom during her special time with God in the mornings and evenings. She prayed, “Hear my humble cry. Help Mom to accept You so we can all be Seventh-day Adventists.”

Angel herself wanted to become a Seventh-day Adventist. She had only gone to the Adventist school for a few months, but she had already fallen in love with the Jesus whom she was reading about in the Bible. She wanted to go to the Adventist church on Sabbath. But Mom wouldn’t allow her. Mom told her to stay at home and do her homework, or wash her clothes, or clean the house.

Angel went to the school chaplain and told him about her situation at home. He prayed with her and said, “You must keep praying for your mom every day.”

One day, Angel was washing the dishes in soapy water when, without her even noticing, her mouth opened and she began to sing with her whole heart. In the middle of the song, Mom walked into the kitchen. But this time her face wasn’t angry. She didn’t say anything. Angel was so happy that Mom hadn’t complained. The next day, she sang again at home.

After a few days, Mom admitted to Angel that she actually liked her singing. She said it was like a beam of sunshine in the house. “I don’t mind if you sing at home,” Mom said.

Angel was so happy! She thanked God during her special time with Him that evening. She also prayed that Mom would allow her to go to church on Sabbath and to become a Seventh-day Adventist.

The next Friday, Angel asked Mom if she could go to church on Sabbath. Mom had never agreed before, but this time she said she didn’t mind.

After that, Angel went to church every Sabbath.

Angel was so happy! She prayed even more earnestly that Mom would allow her to become a Seventh-day Adventist.

One Sabbath, the church pastor asked who would like to prepare for baptism. Angel went home and asked Mom if she could be baptized. To her surprise, Mom said that she didn’t mind. Angel was baptized, and she joined the Adventist Church.

Angel was so happy! She began to pray that her mom and dad would become Seventh-day Adventists.

Today, her dad is preparing for baptism. Angel is sure that it is only a matter of time before Mom also is baptized. She knows that God hears and answers prayers. He heard her prayers to sing at home; He heard her prayers to go to church and to be baptized; and He hears her prayers about her parents. Every morning and evening during her special time with God, she sings and prays, “Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.” ⎭

Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter that will help children learn about Jesus in Zimbabwe and in other countries of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division. One Thirteenth Sabbath project will give children their very own Adventurer’s Bibles, and the other will create a series of short children’s videos about the fruit of the Spirit. Thank you for planning a generous offering on September 27.