Story Behind The Song

This was taken from a story by Rev. James Lumsden about a Vietnam vetran who was able to open up to him.

Song Description

This is a story about a Vietnam vetran and his preacher.

Lyrics

I have been a preacher for over 20 years
I have helped some people to ease their fears
There is one thing I remember
After all these years
Is the teaching of a veteran
And the story of his tears

Things that Billy taught me
Things that Billy taught me
He taught me of the gift of grace
Pulled from all his years

Billy was a vetran of the war in Vietnam
His time there did change him and later who I am
And those who he told his story
Were few and far between
But Billy told me his story
Because of how broke I seemed

CHORUS

Billy told me about his stint in Vietnam
He said it was my guitar that showed him who I am
He knew that I was broken
And not holier than thou
So trust it was he gave me
And he told of his tale

(CHORUS repeats in background over spoken words below)
I have seen things that you wouldn?t believe
And I kept my faith in God despite those horrible things
But they hurt me and left me broken
But Christ Jesus showed me Grace and healed me
I couldn?t believe how I was treated when I came back from serving my country
And thus I could only tell my tale to those who knew they were broken too
I felt like Jesus among the Pharisees, lots of holy experts in all but the most important thing of all, the Grace of Christ Jesus

(Sung bridge)
Billy taught the grace of Christ
Is our most important gift
We are all broken and need our Savior?s lift

CHORUS