Daddy’s temper had kicked in before we could get lunch after church on that Sunday. Little did he know that he would soon be adding a story to his family lore. He confronted my teenaged aunt who had been given what seemed like a simple assignment for the church service. He was preaching and Mama was in the choir. A frequent visitor, Aunt Ruth had family status for both privileges and responsibility. She had been given what seemed to be an easy task. She was to sit with me, a four-year-old.
I had known how to behave in church by the time I could walk. This could not be a difficult task. Daddy had not seen any infraction on my part that morning, but Aunt Ruth got into a fit of giggles during the last hymn that apparently came and went throughout the sermon as she recalled whatever had made her laugh.
Now she stood under Daddy’s scrutiny with his demand to know what brought on her disruption to the church service. He knew he was distracted and assumed others were, too. Aunt Ruth stood up for herself, trying not to laugh again. She said, “Virginia Ann knew all the other hymns and sang along, but when we got to the last one, she didn’t know it. She sang ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ instead.”
To justify myself, I did know most of the hymns by this time, though obviously not this one, and I also knew all the songs Aunt Ruth listened to on the radio. The Psalmist says we are to make a joyful noise unto the Lord without saying it has to be an official hymn. I contend that “Chattanooga Choo Choo” is about as joyful a noise as one can find.
As often happened, Daddy’s sense of humor replaced his anger – and he did love this addition to his repertoire of family stories.
Addendum: If you are not old enough to be familiar with “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” there are excellent renditions available on YouTube.