SING-A-LONG WITH ME

A couple of weeks ago Honeybuns and I made the drive to Dallas to witness Fine Arts Day at Providence Christian School.  It was another breath-taking event, watching children dressed up as historical characters re-teach us old folks American history.  Everyone in the audience was stunned at the details we long since forgotten.  (Do YOU know the history behind "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain When She Comes?")

Our job at the event was to clap and be VERY PROUD.

Each class presented the material they'd learned all year in a most delightful way.

Of all the wonderful impressive songs, speeches and re-enactments one of the most poignant moments for me came when the music director prefaced "Hymn Sing" time, involving ALL the children.

I paraphrase here. She said:

The hymns we have chosen to teach the children this year are not selected casually. When we sing hymns we sing our theology. You see, when we teach children what WE love, they grow up to love it, too.  (Very important statement!) The children have memorized the words and will remember them forever.  Everyone should have a canon of hymns in their memory for that is what will get them through the hard times of life when they come. And they will come.  It has been proven that even the folks that suffer from Alzheimer's, in their latter days, remember and sing the hymns they learned as a child.

She then led the children in their theme of "Hosanna" and they sang from memory 12 of the great hymns of the church, some familiar, some I'd never heard before.  Theology rang throughout the auditorium.  Beautiful, innocent, smiling, serious faces enthusiastically sang their little hearts out!  I could barely breathe and tried to keep tears from streaming down my face.  (As I glanced around, others were doing the same.)

Perhaps some of the younger kiddos sang the words without completely understanding the depth of their meaning. But they will....one day!  They will review in their minds and hearts the grandeur, magnificent, beauty and wonder of God.  They will remember that HE is with them, protecting, guiding, forgiving and loving.  And THAT will see them through!

What a fabulous reminder for all.  What a very wise music teacher!

We learned much that day!

I've decided to go back and memorize the 3rd and 4th verses of some of the great hymns I love,

Just As I Am
Great is Thy Faithfulness
When We All Get to Heaven
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
I Need Thee Every Hour
Holy, Holy, Holy
A Little Sanctuary
It Is Well
Etc.......

Oh, boy! This is going to be fun!