HEARTACHES (TH#21)

 TIMELESS HYMN #21 - Another revised and repeated blog of one of the great hymns of the faith - HEARTACHES  - originally shared on January 25, 2009
.
         During my college days I had the opportunity to sing with a gospel quartet called "The Gospel Four".  We sang each Sunday morning on the radio for 15 minutes, each Sunday night before the evening message, and once in awhile at other churches and programs.  Two of the members were a generation older than I was and the third was about ten years older.  It was a special experience with great memories.  However, four of us younger fellows formed a second group.  We loved to sing but didn't get the opportunity very often to sing in public.  We just enjoyed being together and blending our voices in harmony.  One of the songs that we loved to sing was "Heartaches".  I guess that during those years we all thought that we had heartaches and we probably did.  But as young men we rarely thought about the heavy heartaches that we would probably all face later in life.  But as I've  personally faced many during recent years, the Lord has often brought back the words of this song and I often find myself singing them to myself.  Now I am the only one of the four men still living but I if I think about it, I can still hear the others harmonizing as we sang these comforting words.  But heartaches are a part of our lives and they were what brought about the writing of these words by A. H. Ackley (1887-1960).  Ackley was not only a Presbyterian pastor in the United States, but a skilled musician, master of the cello, and a hymn writer with about 1,500 songs to his credit.  In the early 1930's Ackley dealt with a family in which, to the continual grief of his parents, their son lived a wild and wicked life. Crimes he committed eventually landed him in prison for many years. The heartaches he caused possibly led to the early death of his mother. Unfortunately, there was no happy ending for him ... no repentance and rest in the Lord.   "Kick him into the street!",  advised a neighbor, when the young man was still living at home. "I can't," said his father. "He's my son, and I love him."  Together, Ackley and the father prayed earnestly for the salvation of the prodigal. One evening after the sorrowing father left him, Ackley wrote this song called simply Heartaches.  And over the years many have been touched by the words that he penned that night.  Maybe his words will help comfort you as you experience the heartaches that are part of our life here on this earth.

(1)   When your heart is aching, turn to Jesus,
He's the dearest Friend that you can know;
You will find Him standing close beside you,
Waiting peace and comfort to bestow.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
Go to Him today,
Do it now without delay.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
He will take your heartaches all away.

(2)   There is joy for every troubled sorrow,
Sweet relief for every bitter pain,
Jesus Christ is still the great Physician,
No one ever sought His help in vain.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
Go to Him today,

Do it now without delay.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
He will take your heartaches all away.

(3)   Jesus understands, whate'er the trouble,
And He waits to heal your wounded soul.
Will you trust His love so strong and tender?
He alone can make your spirit whole.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
Go to Him today,
Do it now without delay.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
He will take your heartaches all away.

Listen to it here     LISTEN