My Favourite Stories #141

Billy and the Shipwreck

During the terrible years of World War II, soon after the German armies invaded Russia, it became necessary for large convoys of ships to take food, oil, and supplies to Russia. These ships left from Southampton and other ports in Britain and travelled through the icy North Sea right up to the Russian ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.

Many ships were sunk By German submarines, and many lives were lost on these dangerous missions. But the supplies had to be taken through, and brave soldiers who had been rescued from sinking ships joined other ships and kept going.

Billy was only fifteen when he applied to join the Merchant Navy. He was so small and lightly built that he seemed nearer twelve. Men were needed so badly that Billy was accepted as a ship’s boy. He had no family, and the ship became his first and only real home. The sailors became real friends to him and he was happy.

Soon the convoy entered freezing waters. Great chunks of ice hung along the rails of the ship and formed on the decks and walkways, making them very slippery. Billy and everybody on board had sore hands and feet from the cold.

One morning the warning came that enemy submarines were attacking. Before they could help themselves, their ship with all its precious cargo was sinking, and men were floundering about in the icy sea. Some of the sailors died in that terrible cold.

As the Chief Engineer left the sinking ship, his lifebelt was somehow torn, and he knew it would not support him through the night. He swam around in the sea for almost three hours wondering what would become of him. Black oil from the sunken ship floated on the water, encrusting on his face and arms, making him an unsightly mess.

Suddenly, above the sound of the wind and the waves, the Chief heard a shipmate singing. Hardly believing his ears, he listened again intently. Who was singing? Who could be so happy on a raft as to sing of the hills and trees of his home countryside? New energy came to the Chief’s tired, waterlogged limbs as he caught the next swell and swam toward the voice.

In a huge old-fashioned lifebuoy, his feet in the water on one side, and his back against the opposite part of the inner ring, sat Billy, the ship’s boy. Balanced across his knees lay a small box. It held all he possessed, and he was very proud of the box throughout the voyage. Now that was all over. Most of his friends had gone down with the ship.

               “Billy,” he spluttered, when he saw who it was, “how can you sing? Not much to sing about.”

Then Billy moved over in his lifebuoy, saying, “Climb in Chief, she’ll take two. You see, it’s like this. If I didn’t sing, I’d cry. So, I’m just singing. Come on, Chief, join in!” So, the old man and the boy encouraged each other until they were rescued.

Many brave people have done that over the years. They sang when perhaps they felt more like crying. Do you know the story of Paul and Silas, locked in prison, their lives in danger? They sang. It caused an earthquake and the opening of the prison cells. The result was the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his household. (Acts 16:16-34)

Jesus and His friends had supper together just before He told them He was going to die. They all felt like crying, but they sang a hymn instead. (Matt. 26:30). Jesus tells us today to ask him to help us. He has promised to help, so that we will be able to sing, no matter what our circumstances may be.

Did you know that singing each day for about ten minutes reduces stress, clears sinuses, improves posture and helps you live longer. There’s an increasing amount of evidence that singing releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine – the ‘happy’ chemicals that boost your mood and make you feel good about yourself.

My favourite chapters in the book of Revelation are chapters 4 and 5, where you find an ascending crescendo of praise. It is a choral testimony to the divinity of Christ at His coronation back into heaven after His ascension. There are 5 hymns through the two chapters culminating with every creature in the universe praising the “Lamb” in a 7-fold doxology.

Billy and the Shipwreck

During the terrible years of World War II, soon after the German armies invaded Russia, it became necessary for large convoys of ships to take food, oil, and supplies to Russia. These ships left from Southampton and other ports in Britain and travelled through the icy North Sea right up to the Russian ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.

Many ships were sunk By German submarines, and many lives were lost on these dangerous missions.But the supplies had to be taken through, and brave soldiers who had been rescued from sinking ships joined other ships and kept going.

Billy was only fifteen when he applied to join the Merchant Navy. He was so small and lightly built that he seemed nearer twelve. Men were needed so badly that Billy was accepted as a ship’s boy. He had no family, and the ship became his first and only real home. The sailors became real friends to him and he was happy.

Soon the convoy entered freezing waters. Great chunks of ice hung along the rails of the ship and formed on the decks and walkways, making them very slippery. Billy and everybody on board had sore hands and feet from the cold.

One morning the warning came that enemy submarines were attacking. Before they could help themselves, their ship with all its precious cargo was sinking, and men were floundering about in the icy sea. Some of the sailors died in that terrible cold.

As the Chief Engineer left the sinking ship, his lifebelt was somehow torn, and he knew it would not support him through the night. He swam around in the sea for almost three hours wondering what would become of him. Black oil from the sunken ship floated on the water, encrusting on his face and arms, making him an unsightly mess.

Suddenly, above the sound of the wind and the waves, the Chief heard a shipmate singing. Hardly believing his ears, he listened again intently. Who was singing? Who could be so happy on a raft as to sing of the hills and trees of his home countryside? New energy came to the Chief’s tired, waterlogged limbs as he caught the next swell and swam toward the voice.

In a huge old-fashioned lifebuoy, his feet in the water on one side, and his back against the opposite part of the inner ring, sat Billy, the ship’s boy. Balanced across his knees lay a small box. It held all he possessed, and he had been very proud of the box throughout the voyage. Now that was all over. Most of his friends had gone down with the ship.

               “Billy,” he spluttered, when he saw who it was, “how can you sing? Not much to sing about.”

Then Billy moved over in his lifebuoy, saying, “Climb in Chief, she’ll take two. You see, it’s like this. If I didn’t sing, I’d cry. So, I’m just singing. Come on, Chief, join in!” So, the old man and the boy encouraged each other until they were rescued.

Many brave people have done that over the years. They sang when perhaps they have felt more like crying. Do you know the story of Paul and Silas, locked in prison, their lives in danger? They sang. It caused an earthquake and the opening of the prison cells. The result was the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his household. (Acts 16:16-34)

Jesus and His friends had supper together just before He told them He was going to die. They all felt like crying, but they sang a hymn instead. (Matt. 26:30). Jesus tells us today to ask him to help us. He has promised to help, so that we will be able to sing, no matter what our circumstances may be.

Did you know that singing each day for about ten minutes reduces stress, clears sinuses, improves posture and helps you live longer. There’s an increasing amount of evidence that singing releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine – the ‘happy’ chemicals that boost your mood and make you feel good about yourself.

My favourite chapters in the book of Revelation are chapters 4 and 5, where you find an ascending crescendo of praise. It is a choral testimony to the divinity of Christ at His coronation back into heaven after His ascension. There are 5 hymns through the two chapters culminating with every creature in the universe praising the “Lamb” in a 7-fold doxology.

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