An eThought by Teddy Allen "You'll Never Walk Alone" . . .

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Psalm 23: 4-5 (KJV)

"You'll Never Walk Alone" is a show tune from the second act of Carousel, a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical from 1945. Most of my generation was exposed to tune through Jerry Lewis, who always concluded his Labor Day MDA Telethon by singing it.

It's a brilliant piece of art, and if you get someone who can really sing it . . . and they bring their A-game, it's hard to listen to without crying, at least a little . . . which is exactly what happened to me at a recent funeral.

"Walk on through the wind Walk on through the rain Though your dreams be tossed and blown Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone . . .."

Hundreds of years before Rogers and Hammerstein created the song, another good writer and musician wrote the same thing. A shepherd boy who became king David . . . recorded for all generations a clear picture of the Lord as our Great Shepherd. He is with us in "the valley of the shadow of death," but remember too what Jesus does for us "all the days" of our lives.

Because of His rich goodness and mercy, we never walk alone.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6(KJV)