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There's the wonder of sunset at evening, the wonder as sunrise I see; but the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul is the wonder that God loves me. 

There's the wonder of springtime and harvest, the sky, the stars, and the sun; but the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul is wonder that's only begun. 

REFRAIN

O the wonder of it all, the wonder of it all - just to think that God loves me! O the wonder of it all, the wonder of it all - just to think that God loves me!

George Beverly Shea was born in Winchester, Ontario, CA, on February 1, 1909, to Rev. Joseph and Maude Shea. George was the fourth of eight children. Since his father was the minister of the Sunnyside Wesleyan Methodist Church in Ottawa, George learned all about God and God’s love at very early age. George became a Christian at the age of 5 or 6, but later re-dedicated his life at the age of 18. In an interview, he recalled that he did not “feel too spiritual”. The church was having a revival of sorts called the “Special Effort Week”.  On Friday night, he said his dad approached him, put his hand on his back and asked if this was the night he might come back to the Lord. George shook his head yes, and walked to the front with his dad. His mother taught him to play the organ and piano, his father taught him to play to violin, and he sang in church often. He attended Annesley College, in Ottawa, and transferred to Houghton College in NY, and studied voice. Due to financial difficulties, George dropped out of college, and became a clerk in the medical field and sold insurance for the Mutual of New York Life Insurance, and worked there for 9 years. In 1933, he was asked to sing secular music for a radio network, but turned down the position because he did not feel comfortable singing secular music. He regularly sang on gospel radio networks.  On June 16, 1934, he married Erma and had 2 children, Ronnie and Elaine.  Both children became Christians at young ages, both at Billy Graham Crusades. In 1939, he was offered a position at Moody Bible Institute which included radio work, and administration work.  In 1940, he met Billy Graham, in 1947, he was recruited by Graham and led the singing before Billy began preaching at his crusades.   In 1941, George became an American citizen. He worked for several radio stations, and helped host Youth for Christ rallies in America and Canada. In 1955, after completing multiple events in Scotland, and having approximately 50,000 people accept Christ, he and his family boarded a ship to return home.  He and his son began talking with a man onboard about what they had been doing and why.  George began saying “o the wonder of it all” and explained what he meant by that statement. After returning to their cabin, George could not sleep.  Erma awakened and asked what he was doing and he responded, “oh nothing, just writing a little song.” In 1956, he received an honorary doctorate degree in Fine Arts, from Houghton College, and in 1972, he received another honorary doctorate degree in Sacred Music.  In September 1976, Erma passed away. About 10 years later, Billy Graham was talking with his wife, Ruth, who had a woman in mind for George. Billy and George were on a trip together overseas, and Billy invited George to his hotel room. They began talking and Billy casually dropped the woman’s name into the conversation. Upon returning to America, they met, and were married in Billy’s house by a pastor friend. George and his new wife, Karlene moved to NC, and lived on the same street as Billy and Ruth. On April 16, 2013, after suffering complications of a stroke, George passed away at the age of 104.