The story of His Name Is Wonderful
Audrey Mieir wrote:
“Christmas came on Sunday that year and for once His birth seemed more important to everyone than toys and presents. Fragrant pine boughs perfumed the air in our little Bethel Union Church in Duarte, California. A kind of hushed expectancy filled the place as Silent Night, Holy Night swelled from the organ. Older heads were bowed, eyes were closed, an occasional tear rolled down a wrinkled cheek---remembering 50, 60, or even 70 other Christmases, thankful for the love of God and family, their presents His presence! Little children sat impatiently anticipating the re-creation of the old, old story, their eyes sparkling, reflecting Christmas tree lights, eager to have it all, the Christmas play and, afterward, the dinner and presents, stacked and waiting.
The curtain opened. There it was as it would be depicted countless times that day, the humble manger scene. Mary was a shy teenager, cheeks flushed with excitement, holding someone’s baby doll close in her arms. A young Joseph hovered over her, his smooth face discreetly hidden in old drapery. A beautiful angel glittered and shone, out-brillianced only by the flashing smile for mom and dad in aisle two and her halo slipped to one side. Eleven-year old shepherds shuffled down the aisle with unmistakable reticence, their jeans peeking out from under dad’s old robe.
The procession halted and the choir sang, Sleep in heavenly peace. Dr. Luther Mieir’s voice filled the small church… His Name is Wonderful, he said with his eyes closed and his hands lifted heavenward. And I…I heard the familiar rustling of angel wings. I did not know at that strangely moving moment that a once-in-a-lifetime experience was about to happen. As I grabbed my old Bible and wrote in it, more than with any other of my songs, I felt as if I were only a channel, as if I were not otherwise involved.
It often happened---the song was incomplete at first, though I was not aware of it then. But even that first part seemed to capture people’s hearts. When Tim Spencer heard it, he said, There’s got to be more to it, Audrey; how about a bridge? (I didn’t even know that bridge was a musical term.) He explained the word to me as I was leaving for lunch. I ordered my hamburger. Pre-occupied with Tim’s suggestion, I opened my Bible there in the booth to the Concordance and ran my finger down the list of names given to Jesus in the Scripture. I wrote them down on a napkin. Returning to the office, I went to the piano and finished the song. Today it has gone around the world, having been translated in all major languages, recorded on all major record labels. To God be the glory!
At that moment I did not foresee the ministry one little song of praise could have, that I would hear it sung in a TV station in Taiwan, in the great churches of Sweden, all through Korea and the Philippines, standing on the rooftop schools of Hong Kong where it would be lifted heavenward by thousands of students. My fondest dream could never conceive of it being sung in four languages at the Vatican in Rome in the presence of the Pope, or that I would hear it sung in the Garden of Gethsmane, an experience that was joy unspeakable!
The song will outlive the chubby human hand chosen to write a few black notes on the five lines and four spaces, but it will never outlive the original Composer, God, the Father who glories in His Son’s name, and glories in our praise of it. His Name is full of awe, and is truly Wonderful!”