Kelly Nelon Clark: A Ray of Hope

Kelly Nelon Clark

I spoke to a friend a few days ago and she was asking me to pray for her. She has gone through some tough times and was feeling pretty hopeless, wanting to just give up on life. She was prepared to end it all. With God’s help I was able to open her eyes to life and let her know she was important to Him. I tried to put into words how she felt as it might be an encouragement to others who may be feeling the very same way.

There are days when I have no words for how I’m feeling. I would love to say I’m always up and positive but it wouldn’t be true.

Some days the sun shines and the skies are blue and everything with the world is right. Days when I feel like it could not get any better than it is right now; days when the birds are singing a brand new song just for me. God is everywhere and in everything I see. I can almost smell the beautiful fragrance of His love. His arms surround me and make me feel like I can take on the world. I feel safe and secure knowing He’s here.

Then there are days when the darkness closes in and there is nothing to be seen anywhere. This orphan feels alone, hopeless, and defeated. The tunnel with the light at the end has turned into a black hole with no way out. I call You but You don’t answer. I cry but You don’t see my tears. I wonder what have I done to make You not love me? Where have You gone? I stumble in the darkness to find my way. I fall and keep trying to pick myself up, but how many times can I do that without total collapse?

J

SGN Scoops Feature for February 2016
By Kelly Nelon Clark

High Notes with Kelly Nelon Clark

I spoke to a friend a few days ago and she was asking me to pray for her. She has gone through some tough times and was feeling pretty hopeless, wanting to just give up on life. She was prepared to end it all. With God’s help I was able to open her eyes to life and let her know she was important to Him. I tried to put into words how she felt as it might be an encouragement to others who may be feeling the very same way.

There are days when I have no words for how I’m feeling. I would love to say I’m always up and positive but it wouldn’t be true.

Some days the sun shines and the skies are blue and everything with the world is right. Days when I feel like it could not get any better than it is right now; days when the birds are singing a brand new song just for me. God is everywhere and in everything I see. I can almost smell the beautiful fragrance of His love. His arms surround me and make me feel like I can take on the world. I feel safe and secure knowing He’s here.

Then there are days when the darkness closes in and there is nothing to be seen anywhere. This orphan feels alone, hopeless, and defeated. The tunnel with the light at the end has turned into a black hole with no way out. I call You but you don’t answer. I cry but You don’t see my tears. I wonder what have I done to make You not love me? Where have You gone? I stumble in the darkness to find my way. I fall and keep trying to pick myself up, but how many times can I do that?

Kelly Nelon Clark and The Nelons

Just at the breaking point, just when I’m going to give up, there is a break in the cloud of darkness. A ray of hope shines through into my eyes. It’s what I needed to see, it’s what I needed to know. You are still there!

You never really left. It was me who closed my eyes to the light. I let the darkness overtake me. I should have known, I should have remembered that the evil one comes to steal, kill and destroy. Thank You for not giving up on me when I gave up on myself. Thank You for loving me when no one else loved me. Thank You for whispering my name and letting me know I’m not an orphan and I’m not alone.

Lord, I am Your child; keep me near to You.

ust at the breaking point, just when I’m going to give up, there is a break in the cloud of darkness. A ray of hope shines through into my eyes. It’s what I needed to see, it’s what I needed to know. You are still there!

You never really left. It was me who closed my eyes to the light. I let the darkness overtake me. I should have known, I should have remembered that the evil one comes to steal, kill and destroy. Thank You for not giving up on me when I gave up on myself. Thank You for loving me when no one else loved me. Thank You for whispering my name and letting me know I’m not an orphan and I’m not alone.

Lord, I am Your child; keep me near to You.

By Kelly Nelon Clark

First published in February 2016 by SGN Scoops magazine.

For the latest edition of SGN Scoops click here.

For more Southern Gospel News click here.

High Notes by Kelly Nelon Clark

The Nelons

Psalm 108:1, “My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.”

Music makes the heart sing!

He had been excited all day about coming to the concert. For the first time in months, he was smiling. He remembered things. You see; my dear friend has Alzheimer’s. His memory lapses and sometimes he doesn’t know his own family. That day he was so excited to come see me.
His sons were not coming fast enough and he got a little agitated. So he got out of his chair to walk and get his jacket on. The only problem was he forgot he couldn’t walk. He fell pretty hard. He later told me, “I’m gonna be blue tomorrow.”
I have known this sweet man since I was 16 years old. He had been bringing us (to this venue) all these years. He arrived at the concert. I didn’t even know he was coming! I had been told that he was in a nursing home and his memory was really bad. As I was singing, I looked to my left and there he was, smiling as big as I had ever seen, singing every word to the songs.
As I walked toward him, I prepared myself. He probably wouldn’t remember me. The closer I got, the bigger he smiled. He said, “Kelly it is so good to see you!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “I have known you since you were 16 years old. Your dad brought you here all these years.” I think his boys were as surprised as me. It was amazing the things he told me. He thanked me for calling him when his wife died. She always made sloppy joes when we came. Funny the things you remember on the road.
​I went back to the stage to finish the program and he sang with us the whole time. Our last song was, “Because He Lives.” People were standing everywhere in worship. He looked around and said to his sons, “I want to stand too.” As they helped him up I could only concentrate on my friend who can’t walk, wanting to stand for Jesus. As he did, my eyes welled in tears. Those of us with good legs sometimes don’t stand and praise the Lord, but my friend gave all he could give to stand.
After the concert they wheeled him past the product table so he could speak to me. He told his boys once again he wanted to stand so he could hug me and tell me goodbye. As I watched the struggle to stand, I couldn’t help but just cry. He hugged me and cried himself and told me once again that it meant so much to him that I called. I hugged him wondering if this would be the last time I would get to see him. If so, I know the Lord was there with us, and I saw what music can do. It opens minds and hearts and even brings smiles and tears.

Kelly Nelon

My friend had been sad for months, but music awakened the very depths of his heart and soul, if only for the moment. I thank the Lord for the power of music and that He allows me to carry that gift to the world. I’m humbled.
I just wanted to call my father and tell him who came tonight.

By Kelly Nelon Clark

First published by SGN Scoops in July 2015

For the latest in artist features and columns, see the current issue of SGN Scoops.

High Notes with Kelly Nelon Clark

The Nelons

Sam of Maryland

 In our travels, we meet so many interesting people and I always love to hear their stories. Mr. Sam was at a concert one weekend and invited us to his restaurant. As we ate, he began to share some of his life story. He had a lot of tragedies in a short timeframe of his life. Enough trials to make a person want to give up; but not Mr. Sam.

At the age of six years old, both of his parents were killed in an automobile accident. He and his older brother and younger sister then lived with his grandparents. At the age of 14, they also passed away. He really wasn’t sure what would happen next but an aunt in Maryland took him, and his grandmother’s sister took the other two children. Sam’s aunt raised him and put him through college.

I asked him if he ever felt sad about losing so much and he said. “No, I’ve always been an optimistic kind, with the glass half full. Plus everywhere I went I always felt loved.”

There were two things that struck my heart about his story. First of all, that it matters how you react in life to its blows and punches. And secondly, that love will get you through a lot of things.

I can’t say that in my situations I always stayed positive, but I did know the Lord could handle everything I was going through and His love covered me too!

Maybe you need to know that someone loves you! God cares about your life, your health, your mind, and everything else that pertains to you. You are not alone!  He goes before you, behind you and walks beside you!

Kelly Nelon

By Kelly Nelon Clark

First published in the November 2014 edition of SGN Scoops digital magazine.

For more High Notes by Kelly Nelon Clark, see the latest issue of SGN Scoops digital magazine at www.sgnscoops.com