A pen is an instrument used to express thoughts on paper. But it is the ink that makes it possible to preserve those reflections for centuries. The pen is a structure and during the writing process is not consumed or changed. However, the ink’s sole purpose is to pour itself out and leave its lifeline on the paper. A good analogy can be illustrated in the conversation the pig held with the hen about commitment.  Their master, the farmer, enjoyed his breakfasts and the hen would willingly oblige by providing eggs, but for the pig, he was not too eager, for it meant a total life commitment to provide the bacon.

In our marriage, Julia shared my love for music. I loved creating music but I was not endowed with a voice that was pleasant or could stay on key. Fortunately, Julia had a beautiful voice with a creative mind filled with inspirational thoughts. She, however, did not have the same intensity for creating music and left on her own would have never written any songs. Her love for me was the reason she willingly got involved in our music. We played in bands in our early years of marriage and developed a “Jingle” company producing melodic commercials. However, when we discovered Jesus, our interest in music changed to worshipping the Lord. We spent the next thirty years writing 125+ Christian songs dedicated to praising God or encouraging his people.

Two years ago, Julia was diagnosed with stage four cancer without any hope of remission. During the following eight months, I fervently prayed believing God would heal Julia, but unfortunately for me, it was not God’s will. A short while before Julia received her promotion, I shared lyrics for a song which I had written for her. Two and a half years later, I have completed her song and am hoping God will preserve it, so that Julia, one day, will be able to know how much I yet love her.

I called the song, “You’re the Ink in My Pen,” as Julia was the creativity in our music. She poured out her heart to the Lord in her lyrics and singing. I basically, created the musical beds while Julia wrote the lyrics, melodies and sang the tunes. However, just as a pen is inoperative without ink, I needed Julia, in order to express my thoughts to God. This song acknowledges the truth that Julia was the ink in my pen and hopefully in the next life, our pen will be filled with “rivers of living water” and Julia and I can continue to worship God as one, in eternity.

Here are the lyrics for my song. I used old vocal clips from Julia to include her in the song. Her nickname was “Tang” and mine was “Streeter.”

YOU’RE THE INK IN MY PEN

^Tang YOU WORKED SO HARD MADE A HOME

YOU WORKED SO HARD MADE A HOME

SHOWED US THE WAY

^Streeter YOU’RE MY JULIE, BUT YOUR NAME IS JULIA

^Tang ALL THOSE MEMORIES WILL STAY

^Streeter I SPIED YOUR PHOTO ON THE WALL

 HELD CAPTIVE TO THE BEAUTY I SAW

EYES OF BLUE, LIPS FRESH LIKE MOUNTAIN DEW

YOU CONSUMED MY HEART WITH AWE

YET I THOUGHT TOO LOFTY A GOAL FOR A BOY LIKE ME

BUT THE STARS ALIGNED, AND YOU STILLED MY SEA

LIKE TWO PART HARMONY PLAYED ON A SINGLE TRACK

NOW TO GOD, I PRAISE AND GIVE GLORY

YOU’RE THE INK IN MY PEN

MY LOVER, CONFIDANT AND FRIEND

A MOTHER DIVINE, A WIFE SO FINE

THE BALM THAT HEALS MY WOUNDS

JULIA, I LOVE YOU

WHEN MY HEART BEGAN TO POUND

YOU CRADDLED ME IN FEATHER DOWN

YOU BORE MY WOES AND SHED MY LOWS

CHANGED MY SORRY BLUES TO A JOYFUL SOUND

BUT WHEN TROUBLE INVADED YOUR STREET

YOU ENDURED AND FACED HER HEAT

WHAT A PRECIOUS PEARL, A SELFLESS GIRL

YOUR WINE, IT AGED SO SWEET

CHORUS

BRIDGE

^Tang I’M A LUCKY GIRL WITH A FAMILY FULL OF LOVE

AND IT WILL ONLY GROW WITH EVERY CUDDLE AND HUG

YOU MADE MY LITTLE WORLD A WARMER, BRIGHTER PLACE

AND I’M SO GLAD TO SEE EACH HAPPY SMILING FACE

OUTRO

^Streeter GOD IS YOUR MOST TRUSTED FRIEND

 HOW BLESSED, I TRULY AM

WHAT A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PARTNER YOU ARE

AND I THANK GOD, YOU’RE THE BEST BY FAR

GOD, YOU GAVE ME THE BEST BY FAR

BY FAR THE BEST, YOU GAVE ME,

THANK YOU, LORD, FOR MY JULIE

ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO THE GOD I LOVE

^Tang THE GUARDIAN OF OUR HEARTS

I also completed our autobiography, “If God Gave Me A Voice” by Streeter and Tang.  The book can be purchased on-line by clicking on christianbook or Amazon.