oh REST beside the weary road and hear the angels sing

Gil's beautiful widow and my friend, Nancy,
with the newly released storybook:
Sidney

"Then times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord, and He will again send you, Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For He must remain in heaven until the time for the final RESToration of all things, as God promised long ago through His holy prophets." (Acts 3:20-21)




       In the early 70s, 27-year-old Gil Wheeler wrote and illustrated a children's book about a little snail and dreamed of having it published. Forty-two years later, by God's grace, his widow's determination, and Deep Sea Publishing's expertise, "Sidney," at last, is out of his shell and on the bookshelves.


              For centuries, the Jews dreamed of their coming Messiah, and two thousand years ago...

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth, 

To touch their harps of gold:

"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men

From heavens all gracious King!"

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing.

Jesus came, died, arose, and ascended to heaven; and across the centuries since, Christians have longed for His return.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,

Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way

With painful steps and slow;

Look now, for glad and golden hours

come swirly on the wing;

Oh REST beside the weary road

And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,

By prophets seen of old,

When with the ever-circling years

Shall come the time foretold,

When the new heaven and earth shall own

The Prince of Peace, their King,

And the whole world send back the song

Which now the angels sing. 1

REST, oh weary ones, dreams and God's promises do come true!

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you REST. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find REST for your souls." (Matt. 11:28-29)

(Sidney - now available at www.deepseapublishing.com )

1 IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR. Edmund Hamilton Sears, 1849.