Can You Sing?

This pandemic has kept us from singing in church. I long for the day when we can return to worship in God’s House and sing songs of joy. When I was growing up, my grandmother was the organist at Leesburg United Methodist Church.  Grandmother, or Mamaw as we called her, thought that standing around the piano singing as she played was the best way to spend time.  I think at one time I knew every hymn in the hymnbook. I used to complain that all Mamaw did was make us sing, while today I think back on how much fun that was to stand around the piano and sing.

I remember my mother having dementia and it started when she was only 59.  It became so bad that she didn’t even know the names of her four sons.  I remember when she was at her worst, we put a radio by her head in the nursing home and played music.  The music was peaceful to her, and to our surprise, she knew every word to each song, as long as it was an old song. Singing old favorites has been shown to boost mood, reduce falls, and decrease the need for sedative drugs.  In my mother’s case, it brought back memories and she was able to sing along with the music.

The joy that comes from singing is a gift from God.  Psalm 147:1 says, “How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” Isaiah 12:5 says, “Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things.” Psalm 40:3 says, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.”

Our singing inspires us but also those who hear it.  As we come out of this pandemic may we all remember, our God is great and worthy of praise.

Prayer: May we sing praises to You, God.  Thank you for unlocking the minds of those with memory problems as well as reminding us that we all need to sing praises to You.  Amen.

Psalm 147:1 – How good it is to sing praises to our God.

Author: Tommy Herndon