Lucy Adams ~ His Name is Wonderful ~ Story Behind the Song

Hello, Whispers in Purple friends and readers. I have a special treat for you today, and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

I coaxed Lucy Adams, a long-time online friend for, I think, over thirty years Does that sound about right, Lucy? Sadly, we've never met each other.  Here's what Lucy wrote when she sent this to me:

Dear, dear, Peg, what a wonderful request! I have sung the music and words of "His Name Is Wonderful” many times this Christmas, so I thought I’d share this song, and the story behind it.

   

     Also, I love it since it can go into the New Year with us … and we can shout out forever ---- His name IS definitely wonderful all year round!  Isaiah 9:6 is the basis.

     So thankful you asked.

Okay, here's Lucy's research story about this song.

                                   His Name Is Wonderful

     Gifts come to us for various reasons.  The composer of this song said it was a "gift from heaven."  And, I believe that gifts from God are given to bless us, so that we may bless others.  Audrey Mieir, composer of "His Name Is Wonderful", wrote a song that has blessed millions of people.

     However, she said she never intended to write a song on that special day.  She was focused on the children's nativity scene and the sermon of the morning. Mrs. Mieir said it all happened on Christmas day in 1955 as she sat quietly in church. At Bethel Union Church in Duarte, California where her husband's brother, Dr. Luther Mieir was the pastor, everyone was smiling at a joyful and typical scene.

     The children, who were shepherds, were dressed in oversized bathrobes.  The angels' halos were slightly crooked.  Carol singing and scripture reading was meaningful, as always. The familiar prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 went down deep into her soul as she cherished those old words: 

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace."

     When the pastor finished reading the familiar scripture, he lifted his hands, closed his eyes and said, "His name is wonderful."  There must have been a holy hush in Mrs. Mier's soul.  She said, "I felt as if I heard the rustle of angel wings and a musical chorus came to my mind."

     Quickly she wrote in the flyleaf of her Bible the words that her brother-in-law had just proclaimed, "His name is wonderful." She wrote it three more times and added, "Jesus my Lord."

     In a few days, she completed the song with a fuller description of who Jesus is.  The last line is a personal response to the One whose name is wonderful.  We want to bow down, love and adore this wonderful Jesus.

     Before Audrey Mieir died in 1996 at the age of 80, some of her last words were:  "His Name Is Wonderful" and will outlive the chubby human hands chosen to write a few black notes on five lines and four spaces. But it will never outlive the Father who glories in His Son's name."

Peg here: As I usually try to do with Lucy's posts, I looked for a video of someone singing this beautiful song, so I've embedded it here. I hope you'll enjoy ... maybe even sing along.

Lucy N. Adams  

  52hymns.com