miracle, n, [L. miraculum, from miarai, to wonder at]
1. in theology, an event or effect that apparently contradicts known scientific laws and is hence thought to be due to supernatural causes, especially to an act of God.
2. a wonder or wonderful thing

The Miracle of Affirmation

affirmation, n
1. the act of affirming or asserting as true: opposed to negation or denial.
2. confirmation: ratification — antonym: grief

Jenny Burton grew up a foster child passed from family to family by four different sets of parents who all decided eventually that they just did not want her.  At the age of fourteen, flunking out of high school, verging on a life of no hope and the overwhelming obstacles of poverty in the South Bronx, she was led one Sunday to attend the small storefront church of the Reverend Josephine Richards.

There she found a light, a spiritual leader and, at last, a mother in the robust Reverend Richards.  Eventually, “Rev” took Jenny into her own house and unofficially adopted her.  Instead of a life in the streets, Jenny spent her latter teenage years singing in the choir of The Universal Church of Truth in the South Bronx.  There she found her voice and her commitment to God.  She graduated as high school valedictorian.

She continued to sing in the church choir and hone her considerable gospel chops and talent.  In the mid seventies she recorded a secular song that made it to several R&B charts and so began a secular recording career that spanned fifteen years.  She became a nationally known R&B and Dance Music artist and signed a five-year deal with Atlantic Records where she garnered two gold albums and four top ten singles.  She sang all over the world and had a strong and passionate fan base, but never really found her true satisfaction.

During the time of her secular success, she rarely missed a Sunday singing in the choir in Rev’s church.

In a major upheaval at Atlantic Records, her champions were replaced by others with their own agendas.  Jenny, more often being shunted to the back of the pack, left Atlantic in disappointment — her career seemingly short lived.  Rev was once again there for her — steadfast, strong.

Jenny turned fully to God and the expression of God’s grace and decided to dedicate her work to Inspirational music.  Her amazing vocal group, The Jenny Burton Experience, ran, sold out, at one of New York City’s top clubs for seven years, won the MAC Award for Best Vocal Group and was named Entertainers of the Year in New York City.  They opened for Stevie Wonder at Lincoln Center and became the first Gospel Group to headline in Atlantic City at Resorts International.

Then, once again, the roof caved in — literally.  The amazing run of The Jenny Burton Experience came to an end just as Rev’s old church collapsed leaving both Jenny and Rev destitute.  Jenny went to work in the corporate world scratching out a living in unfamiliar territory.  Rev never really recovered from the toppling of her church.  She passed away several years ago.

Jenny spent four years moving from job to job and hardly sung a note.  Believing her career to be finally over, living alone and facing depression daily, she worked through it and became an extremely capable manager on her job at a New York insurance company.

She never lost the faith that Reverend Richards had instilled in her.

The opportunity came to record her second Inspirational album — this time a solo effort.  She began to sing again.

A miracle is that which is divinely natural.

I Stand For You

Music by Peter Link
Lyrics  by Peter Link & Jenny Burton

I walk the roads you walked
With every step I take
I try to follow you
With every move I make
I see your shining light
And like a magnet
I am drawn to you
God let your light shine through
I’ll bear the torch and share the fire
And carry on the meanings of your life
As I go through life

Oh I’ll remember you
In everything I do
In every step I take
In every move I make
I’ll remember you
And I’ll walk in your shoes
I’ll stand in your grace
I shall not be moved
And what’s more
With all that you stand for

I stand for you
Yeah I stand for you
Ooooohhhhhhh
I stand for you

I dedicate my life
To the wisdom that you taught
I lift your sword of truth
To the battles you have fought
I carry on your name
So all the world will know
Of the light in you
God let your light shine through
And when it all is said and done
Those who’ve known me
Will have known you too
This I hope to do

Yeah I’ll remember you
In everything I do
In every step I take
In every move I make
I’ll remember you
And I’ll walk in your shoes
I’ll stand in your grace
I shall not be moved
And what’s more
With all that you stand for

I stand for you
Yeah I stand for you
Ooooohhhhhhh
I stand for you

I stand for you
I stand for you
You are my light
You are my lighthouse
Your blood is runnin’ through my veins
You stand for the truth
And nothing less
So I got to
Looks like it’s time to get dressed

My feet are shod
With the preparation of the gospel of peace

Got my shield of faith
And the breastplate of righteousness
Hand me down my helmet of salvation
And the sword of the spirit
The whole armor
The whole armor of God

And I’ll stand
I’ll stand
For you!