Long Road Home
He was from a small town in Northern California.
She always said that’s where she was born, yeah.
She was really from the flat lands of Kansas.
They met in a little café in Lands End.
She was just getting a bite while passing through.
He was taking a short break from his traveling too.
They started talking and hit it off well.
He was looking for sources of stories to tell.
He was a writer of songs and fiction.
She played guitar and sang with perfect diction.
He showed her some songs he’d written.
She loved the lyrics and was truly smitten.
He didn’t write music so he only had the words.
She said she felt the music & could add it to his words.
The words came alive with the music she was singing.
They became a team with the songs they were bringing.
Later, after, RV rally’s, coffee houses, and Mall openings,
they hit it big when a music star asked them to open things.
They went on the tour and opened the show each night.
The audience loved them, cheering till they were out of sight.
Soon after they had a record contract.
She looked at him and said “ This is where it’s at.”
From north to south, east to west. Overseas and down under.
They traveled all around showing their thunder.
Record sales climbed as they became known.
Before long they were up for a Grammy as shown.
They didn’t win but, they came close.
They sang on the show. It was the most.
They kept playing with a great big grin.
And the money just kept on pouring in.
Then one day, they got the word.
It was the worst news they had ever heard.
Her mother was dying. They went to her side.
Mom said “You remember the day your daddy died?”
“Remember the promise you made at his side?”
“Yes”, she said, as she hung her head.
“Make the same promise to me before I’m dead.”
She knelt and promised to give her heart to God.
He was shocked and thought it a little odd.
When they left she explained to him.
Her parents were Christian and sin was sin.
They wouldn’t force her but, had her promise
as their last request. They were so honest.
They felt it was the only way to save their daughter.
Since leaving home she had partaken of much muddy water.
“I’m not against going to church” he said.
“Oh, would you?” she cried. “I want to go with you.” She said.
“Not for just when someone is dead or for wedding vows.”
“I have felt the urge for awhile but, to ask, I didn’t know how”
They studied the Bible and prayed For God to show
the right church where they could grow.
They were led to a church in Northern California.
They were on fire, let me warn ya.
They became filled with the Holy Spirit.
Their music changed your heart to hear it.
Their music now became their ministry.
They were quite popular as you can see.
They won many soles for the Lord.
People heard Jesus in every cord.
They said The Lord was leading all the time.
We didn’t know He said “You are mine.”
Happier, they could not be.
They wish the same for you and me.———-R. W. Johnson—-(2012)