Ree returns home – she is reestored, reespected, and reedeemed. – Five House Publishing

Read Time:3 Minute, 57 Second

By William Van Zyl.

Published January 11, 2023.

Unchained, unshackled and unfettered.

The microphones, lighting, and cameras created a network of tangled wires in the small church. Ree was at the center of the electric net – stunned by the harshness of life. It was as if a spider had woven a prison around her. As if she was poisoned. However, when she opened her mouth to sing, the spider lost its power, and the web released its tangle.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.’

Ree had come home. She was in need of unchaining. She had been tangled and strangled by life itself, alcohol abuse, heavy smoking, and a toxic relationship. She was desperate.

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It all happened a couple of nights earlier in a hotel room.

‘Please come and collect the trash in the room,’ she said over the hotel telephone.

‘We will be right over, madam. I will send the porter,’ said the receptionist in the lobby with unease in her voice.

A couple of large black refuse bags were lying at the door. The black bags were filled with male clothes. Lots of male attire. A picture of Re and her man laid on top. It signaled a final decision.

‘Madam, we are here to collect the rubbish,’ said the porter.

‘Please take all the rubbish. Make sure you don’t leave anything behind,’ said Ree.

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As Amazing Grace rolled over her lips and tears streamed over her face, she was untangled; the net was cut and removed; the strings were detached, and the chains were broken. She lifts her head; she sees the brass serpent. The antivenom is administered, and she is envenomated. Ree’s soul is restored.

The headlines cover the newspapers.

Aretha releases Gospel Album.

It became her greatest album of all time.

*Credit: Aretha on the cover art of her album Amazing Grace can be obtained from Atlantic. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16940850*

Aretha made gospel history in 2 days.

Amazing Grace is a live album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was recorded at her ‘homecoming’ in January 1972 at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, with Reverend James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir accompanying Franklin in performance. In just 2 days, Ree returned to God and her church. She sang her heart out. Tears washed her soul. She was untangled, unchained, and every burden removed. She was free. Aretha had been through lots of pain and heartache in her life. In short, pregnant at 12, suffering domestic violence (first husband), she eventually left him. She had to face her demons. She left her church, and ended up a very successful and famous artist. However, she was miserable, and unfulfilled. Desperate and alone, she tried to drowned her sorrows. Like the prodigal she returned – she is reestored, reespected, and reedeemed.

Those songs were filled with so much soul that the album became her most successful one. She made gospel history. The recording was initially released as a double album on June 1, 1972, by Atlantic Records.

The album was a critical and commercial success, selling over two million copies in the United States alone and earning a double platinum certification. It also won Franklin the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance. As of 2017, it is the best-selling disc of Franklin’s fifty-plus-year recording career and the highest-selling live gospel music album of all time.

‘Come, you that are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.’

‘At the foot of the cross, I lay my burdens down.’

What a beautiful thing to see. See how the burdens roll off Aretha, how she is unchained, unshackled, and released from her pain and sorrow. Jesus is our Counsellor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace.

My friend, are you tired, are you burdened, heavy laden?

There is room at the cross for you.