Sing...

Music. I have a long history with music. When I was but a wee babe, my grandma Adams was living with us recuperating from surgery. She was not able to help much around the house so she would often sit and rock me, feeling like it was at least of some help to my mom. I remember her telling me the story of the time my Mom came and asked her, “Can I hold the baby?” and she realized she had been doing all the holding. Anyway, she also told me as I was growing up that even before I could talk when she would rock and sing to me as a baby, I would hum along.

I remember in my childhood sitting on grandma’s front porch discovering the wonders of harmony as I learned my first round. I was fascinated that I could start “Row, row, row your boat” at a different time and it still sounded good. I had to really concentrate so I didn’t slip back into singing along with the other person, but I was so proud when I could do it. My Dad also had an influence in my love of harmonies. He was a member of a southern gospel quartet. On road trips we would sing. Mom sang soprano, Dad sang tenor, and I learned the alto so we could blend.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like some kind of music. Or for that matter anyone who is not fairly opinionated about the type of music they like. I think, as I have gotten older I have also begun to appreciate more the beautiful interplay of words and music. Lyrics can be so powerful and touch us deeply. I play around with this some myself combining melody and lyrics. I’m always amazed by the creation of a song.

I have been blessed to be a part of our worship team at church. I love the words that proclaim our Lord and Savior. The words that lift up his name and remind us of God’s rightful place as Lord of all. So it with a definite bias that I can’t understand how when I look out at the congregation, there are those who look bored, or sometimes even angry. There are many who seem to be waiting. Maybe they don’t know the song, but the words are on the screen. Maybe someone has told them they can’t sing. Maybe they are having to really concentrate like I did when I first sang “Row, row, row your boat.”

I know that my grandma loved hearing me sing. She didn’t love hearing me sing because I had a beautiful singing voice. She would sit and smile at me as I sang. She loved hearing me sing, because she loved me. Likewise in our praise music I think God loves hearing us sing, not only because we verbally affirm how great and wonderful he is, but also because He loves us. So I encourage you to really notice the lyrics and say them aloud even if you can’t sing them aloud. Try to remember who you are really singing to and just imagine His smile.