This House Still Stands
One evening on the 6 o’clock news I saw a house that narrowly escaped the ravages of a severe storm that passed through our area. The scene of a structure that had stood strong in the face of nature’s wrath reminded me of how my parent’s marriage survived other types of weather that threaten to devastate their home.
Ney and Sylvia Williamson got married on a cold December day in 1943. Dad was going to be a hog farmer and had great hopes of building a business and growing a family. On their wedding night, before they went to bed, dad went out to check on the hogs. As he entered the hog pen, he walked straight into a fierce storm. Some wild dogs had dragged diseased meat in amongst dad’s herd of swine and they were infected with cholera. Mom and dad spent their wedding night killing and burning the only source of income they had. Mom said she thought they were going to starve to death that winter… but they made it.
That wasn’t the only time they would face a flood of sorrow. Raising six children on their dairy farm was anything but easy. Mom and dad lost their parents and buried a twelve year old granddaughter. At age 50, dad had a massive heart attack and mom battled cancer for ten years. After mom died dad lived alone, remembering their 52 years together.
My parents understood well the truth in John 16:33. “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” They taught their children what it meant to lean on God for the grace and protection from even the worst of life’s storms.
This House Still Stands is not a song about man-made buildings and storms of nature. Instead, it is about two spirits that have been united into one by the bonds of matrimony, and how an unseen house can remain in tact in the face of spiritual and emotional storms and floods of life.
This House Still Stands
It started as a rumble
Turned into a roar
Do you remember how that wind
Pounded on our door
We lost some shingles
We lost a window pane
But when that storm had passed us
This old house remained
This house still stands
This house still stands
We built it on The Rock
We didn’t build it on the sand
This house still stands
It started as a teardrop
And turned it into a flood
When troubles came to wash away
These walls these hold our love
But babe do you remember
How we called on Jesus’ name
And when that flood was over
This old house remained
Chorus:
Words and Music: Steve Chapman/Times & Seasons Music/BMI
Song recorded on the CD, “This House Still Stands”
Hi, just wanted to tell you, I enjoyed this post. It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
My sister and her husband of 50 years just used your wonderful song at their renewing of their vows and celebration
to God and each other. It was perfect! Thank you for such inspiring music.
Elain,
We so appreciate you letting us know about the usage of the song at the 50th anniversary celebration for your sister and your brother-in-law. We are honored by it.
And…thanks for your kind and encouraging words. Blessings to you,
Steve & Annie
Just wanted to say that I love this song! I remember seeing Steve and Annie at a concert with my husband, not quiet 30 years ago. The song, “Keep the Home Fires Burning,” is our song, my husband puts in the “cassett’ anytime he gets in a romantic mood, which is quite frequently when things are going well, and that song has blessed things to go well as it reminds us that we are the ones responsible to keep the home fires burning.