Earnestly, Tenderly

by Ken Proctor

The guitar sat gently on his worn, tattered jeans

As he rode the porch swing to a soft melody.

His eyes and his hands looked as old as his tune

But his voice came alive as he sang it to me...

 

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,

Calling for you and for me.

See on the portals, He’s waiting and watching,

Watching for you and for me.

 

That hymn from my childhood brought sweet memories

Of a home far behind, and my own family.

But the mem’ry grows fainter the longer I’m gone,

And my tired heart listened to the man’s melody.

 

Come home, come home.

Ye who are weary come home.

 

So I pointed my boots down the road back to town,

And caught the next Amtrak that was headed eastbound.

The wheels on the rails clicked in smooth 6/8 time,

And the word that he sang just kept coming around... he sang...

 

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,

Pleading for you and for me,

Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,

Mercies for you and for me.

 

As I walked the last mile, I stopped by the way

To look at the church where I first learned to pray.

I rested my hand on the white clapboard side

And thanked God for the old man on a hill far away... who sang...

 

Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised,

Promised to you and to me.

Tho we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon.

Pardon for you and for me.

Come home, Come home. Ye who are weary come home.

Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,

Calling, Oh sinner, come home.