Songs in My Heart?
Lately, I have been thinking about the therapeutic benefit of music. With my recent illness, I noticed that singing and the ability to sing, suddenly became very precious, perhaps because my sore throat and lack of voice prohibited it or perhaps because the soothing effects were sorely needed. I just know that my head and my heart sang the enter time, even when my voice could not accompany them. Singing is such a big part of my life!
I remember growing up in the youth group, going to rallies and Bible bowls, camp etc. Singing played a role in every activity. We sang in the bus on the way, we sang in class, we sang in the auditorium before the service started, and we sang in the bus on the way home. Those songs, the words and the tunes, stayed in my heart, in my mind and on my lips for a long time. I grew to love them and the thoughts behind them. My mother went around the house singing and my dad did too, (even though with Dad, who was less musically inclined, every song was sung to the tune of Jesus Loves Me, sorry Dad :) ) Ned and I often sing together in the car when we go places, but I think we are outside the norm. Today it just doesn't seem like people sing as much as they used to. I think that is very sad!
Statistics tell us that music is healing, that it often calms and soothes the soul. It is the gentle persuasion of the lullaby that tugs down the resistant eyelids of infants. It is the peaceful melody of spiritual songs that often accompanies Hospice patients as they let go of this life and move on to the next. It is with song that we learn our ABC's and that Jesus Loves Us. It is music that takes part in the most important days of our lives. It plays a role in weddings and funerals, in birthdays and anniversaries, in love and in celebrations. It is in that marriage of melodies and words that we find the expression of every human emotion.
I think it is significant that as Messiah prepares Himself and His disciples for the horror of His arrest, scourging and ultimate crucifixion, that they sing a hymn together. (Matthew 26:30) I think it is significant that after the miraculous blessing of the Red Sea crossing, the children of Israel celebrate with song. (Exodus 15) And in the gospel of Luke, when Mary is told of her role in the birth of the Savior, what does she do? She sings a song of praise! The New Testament writers tell us that singing songs of praise is a big part of our worship to God! The Old Testament fathers knew that to be true, also. Obviously, singing is a good thing!
Ned and I have been talking lately about how little we sing. He and I have both been "fill-in" teachers for Sunday school classes. He taught Jr. high and I taught 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. Neither class sang and both acted surprised and uncomfortable at the suggestion. I was told by the regular teacher that the "only class that really sings anymore is the cradle roll class". Is this true? I was surprised and a little bit disturbed, perhaps because I know the impact songs have had on my spiritually. My entire life has been and continues to be a life filled with singing.
So I guess, what I'd like to know is "do you find this true where you worship?" and does it disturb anyone else?
Blessings,
Neva
posted by Neva | 4:25 AM
22 Comments:
Neva,
First of all, I am so glad to see you are feeling better.
Secondly, I have noticed that few of our classes sing either. We do sing at VBS but other than that, I don't think any of our classes sing regularly.
Thirdly, I think it is a teacher issue. The kids would probably love to sing but the teachers are reluctant.
IMO
Love
Pat
So glad you are feeling better. Your post certainly brought back childhood memories of singing. I love the "church song" both old and new. I sing in the car a lot. Since I'm not really tuned (as in can't find one, can't carry one), but I do it anyway. My poor dog.
Where we attend at Wildwood, they have a monthly singing. Anyone can show up on that Tuesday night and join in. I don't see any children come, but it is a school night.
Ok this is getting a little long.
God Bless, Pat
I am glad you are well and back to blogging. I truly missed your wisedom and your challenging and encouraging words.
That said, the wife and I have also discussed why our children don't sing anymore. Our youth group bowls, plays lasar tag and paint ball, they ski and snowboard and go on mission trips, but they rarely sing. The children's classes don't either. I am not sure whether or not it is diagnostic, I only know we miss it.
Thanks for the post, Neva and welcome back.
Carlos
Welcome back to the blogosphere. You were definitely missed.
Our youth don't sing in class either. Maybe because they do so much "handwork" ---no, really, that seems to be all they do and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to decipher exactly what the spiritual application or lesson was--I have spoken to our education minister about this but I am not really sure where that went. I remember how much I learned from the songs. Great post, Neva
Rachel
I have missed your wisdom and insight. It is true that the trend seems to be less singing in general in peoples lives. I personally love to sing I go around humming, singing In the car we don't listen to the radio I either entertain my kids with a silly song, we learn a new song, or we take requests right now the fave seems to be 'nothin' but the blood.' At Hawley I get asked on occasion to lead singing, I am not a "good" song leader, just a willing volunteer. People often tell me that they "love to hear me sing" not because of the sound but because I "enjoy it and mean the words I am not singing notes."
Thank you for reminding me to keep singing even if its off pitch and key.
I sing all the time too. But now that I think about, you are right. I co-teach a 3rd and 4th grade class and we never sing. That needs to change, if nothing else it robs our kids of a good outlet for their emotions. I know I am much happier when I have a song in my heart.
I was praying for your recovery. Praise God that you are better
In Him,
Corinne
I agree. We don't do enough singing. Leah and I try to sing sometimes, but not as much as we should. She is trying to teach our boys songs as part of school and it is such a blessing to here your 3 or 5 year old singing a song.
Also, I thought I'd let you know that I've posted your blog at SIBI's Alumni Site. I really look forward to reading your contributions.
Jeff
There is not as much singing as ther should be, but we still sing in our bible classes. We think it is important.
Glad to see you well again.
Dean
Neva,
I believe that most mainsteam Churches of Christ have not focused on the importance of worship to their kids. As a youth minister for over 8 years and minister now for 4 I have seen our young people lacking the desire to worship. The focus that parents stress is Athletics. I have even seen countless number of girls who didn't know how to pray. Why? Nobody had taught them how to pray. No one asked them to pray. Importance. It is my prayer that as leadership within the churches of Christ changes and generations change that the focus that we give our young people will be a desire to sing. A desire to worship. An understanding on how to pray. Stessing that God want us to KNOW Him. God bless you for this wonderful post. Keep it up. We need to keep topics like this on the table.
Yes, Neva. My wife and I have noticed the same thing. This is not just an unfortunate develpment for our young people, though. In the midst of many situations and conversations I have often wondered, "Where has our joy gone?" There are probably many reasons this situation has evolved. James 5:13 may give us a hint.
It breaks my heart that we don't teach our children this most basic expression of adoration for God. One has to wonder if there will come a time when we don't sing at all---or at least any worship or praise songs.
Great post, Neva.
Karli
Glad you are felling better!
Oops! Feeling better, I mean.
Ohhhh, I love to sing too! It is a big part of my life as well.
I'm so glad you are feeling better.
Lori
Glad to see you are back (((hugs))). Hope you could really full recover!
You are really right about that precious songs. I realised lately that songs are coming to my mind, that I sang with maybe 7 years old. But God is using the text now to comfort me or to challenge me.
Neva,
Hopefully you have done your time with the bugs and will feel healthy all year long.
Our children in class don't sing either. I never really paid attention until I read this post and then I asked them. Not one ofmy children said they sing in class. You would think at ages 5, 9 and 12 that singing would still play an important part in their learning. I am wondering if the same trend is prevalent in the secular world. I used to sing a lot in Kindergarten and elementary school. We even had music time. Do you know if that has changed also? Would be interesting to know.
I plan to attend our next education meeting at church and ask if there is a particular reason we don't sing with our kids. I will get back to you. Great thought provoking post, Neva.
Missed your daily inspirations.
Carol
Neva - Finally got to come by. Thanks for sharing your "snow" thoughts with me.
Sorry to hear you've been ill.
I too love singing but I am a lot like your Dad -- probably worse --I can't carry a tune "in a bucket" and unless I have someone else to follow I probably don't even have a repeatable tune for any song I sing. But I love singing. I do think you are right -- there does seemto be less singing among youth. I wonder if it is the age of ipods and MP3 players that makes each person "self-sufficient" and able to "listen to/sing along with their own thing" that is partially to blame?
God Bless
Charlie
I haven't really given much thought to singing when I'm teaching class because we sing a lot in our children's worship and my family sings together a lot. But you've inspired me to give it a shot -- I'll be teaching again starting in March, so I'll try to carve out time for singing with my class.
Neva,
So glad to see that you are doing better. I've been praying for you.
I want you to know that I've been convicted today. I am so guilty of what you have written here. Even though I love to sing, I'm not really good at it. I think that this keeps me from singing with the kids that I work with, as much as I should.
You are so right, that singing is such an important and integral part of the learning process. I personally associate so many wonderful things with song.
After reading you post, I am gong to try harder to integrate more singng into my classes and other times with the kids.
Just a note to preacherman. My wife works with the ladies ministry, and she says the it is amazing to see the number of grown women who do not know how to pray.
I love it that my children are at a place in church where singing is so much a part of their worship. everytime i pick them up, that's what they're doing in their class. and i think our worship is also centered very much around that. it's amazing the power of a song, both good and bad, and to me so much worship can come from a song!
Howdy gurl ;)
Yup I sang all the time.
Isn't it amazing the amount of songs that are found in the bible?
Great toughts!
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