“Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice”

Soft as the voice of an angel

Breathing a lesson unheard

Hope with a gentle persuasion

Whispers her comforting word

Wait ‘til the darkness is over

Wait ‘til the tempest is done

Hope for the sunshine tomorrow

After the darkness is gone

Whispering hope whispering hope, whispering hope

Oh, how welcome Thy voice, welcome Thy voice, oh, how   welcome Thy voice 

Making my heart, making my heart, making my heart

In its sorrow rejoice, in its sorrow rejoice

If in the dusk of the twilight

Dim be the region afar

Will not the deepening darkness

Brighten the glimmering star

Then when the night is upon us ooh

Why should the heart sink away?

When the dark midnight is over

Watch for the breaking of day

Hope as an anchor so steadfast

Breaks the dark veil of the soul

Whither the Master has entered

Robbing the grave of its goal

Come then oh! come Blessed Saviour

Come to my sad, weary heart

Come oh thou blessed hope of glory

Never oh! Never depart

This immortal and inspiring song written by American songwriter Septimus Winner  as far back as 1868, was one of the favourite songs of my beloved sister Therese Jayachandra (Nee Benedict) who passed away on January 1, 2023

Early that morning I was awoken by a telephone call and I thought it was from a friend or relative wanting to give me  New Year wishes. But the caller had sad news. She informed me that my dear sister had passed away. Therese was educated at Good Shepherd Convent in Kotahena where we lived then. Later we moved to Ratmalana where I lived with Therese and her family. We had a deep and close relationship and it was her husband Alex Jayachandra, an outstanding journalist, who opened the career in journalism for me in 1966.

After her higher education, Therese worked at Browns Group and as confidential secretary in several divisions, including the Head Office and the Motor Division. Later she worked for Star Garments Company set up by the international business tycoon Kumar Devapura. When he set up a factory at Yap Island in the South Pacific, Therese also went there to work as his Confidential Secretary.

She also went through her trials and tribulations, troubles and temptations but faced them with courage from the power of God. Perhaps she was inspired also by a famous song written by Fr. Frank Anderson. This hymn, titled ‘the Galilee Song’ goes like this: “Deep within my heart, I feel voices whispering to me, words that I can’t understand; meanings I must clearly hear, calling me to follow close, lest I leave myself behind, calling me to walk into evening shadows one more time; So I leave my boats behind, leave them on familiar shores, set my heart upon the deep, follow you again, my Lord; In my memories, I know how you send familiar rains, falling gently on my days, dancing patterns on my pain, and I need to learn once more in the fortress of my mind, to believe in falling rain as I travel deserts dry; As I gaze into the night down the future of my years, I’m not sure I want to walk past horizons that I know, and I need to learn once more like a stirring deep within, restless ‘til I live again beyond the fears that close me in.”

As the famous Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran has remarked, “It is said that before entering the sea, a river trembles with fear; she looks back at the path she has travelled, from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages; And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter, there seems nothing more than to disappear forever; But there is no other way, the river cannot go back; Nobody can go back, to go back is impossible in existence; The river needs to take the risk, of entering the ocean, because only then will fear disappear, because that’s where the river will know, it’s not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean.”

My dear Therese was gracious and generous. She lovingly helped the family and others in extraordinary ways even at time when she did not have money. For instance, when we needed to buy our flat at the De Soyza Housing Scheme in Ratmalana, she gladly and immediately sent us about Rs. 100,000. She was like my second mother. 

As written by Jeremiah Eames Rankin the abolitionist, champion of the temperance movement, minister of Washington D.C.’s First Congregational Church: “God be with you till we meet again, by his counsels guide, uphold you, with his sheep securely fold you; God be with you till we meet again; Till we meet, till we meet, till we meet at Jesus’ feet, till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again; God be with you till we meet again, when life’s perils thick confound you, put his arms unfailing round you; God be with you till we meet again; God be with you till we meet again, keep love’s banner floating o’er you, smite death’s threatening wave before you, God be with you till we meet again.”

Louis Benedict