A family of gifted musicians showed off their skills during a performance of a classic hymn.
Death has impacted and will continue to touch our lives in one form or another. Unfortunately, death is a fact of life. It's something that everyone will experience. However, because of God’s love, grace and mercy, death does not have to be the end.
In a clip posted on YouTube, The Critter Family Bluegrass Band plays “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” The group plays before a fairly full church in Malling, Denmark.
The hymn is a somber, but somewhat uplifting song about death, the loss of a loved one and what waits for some. The opening verse mentions that the songwriter has just experienced the loss of a dearly loved mother. Of course, like any person, the songwriter is broken up about her death.
But the song’s chorus provides hope amid all the sadness and grief. Yes, the loss of a loved one, especially someone as close as a parent, will hurt, but there is something better waiting. For those believers, who accepted Christ as their savior, heaven awaits them.
“Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky”
While the promise of heaven and being reunited with those loved ones is comforting, death and loss still hurt. The song goes on to detail how much the loss of the mother stings. The songwriter mentions that while they are attempting to put on a brave face, the sorrow and sadness are still present.
This song perfectly captures the death of someone who accepted Christ and the hurt their death causes to those still on earth.
Near the end of the clip, at approximately the 5:50-minute mark, the musicians get the entire congregation involved. They help sing the beautiful chorus.
Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”