Singing Songs Cheer The Weary Soul

SINGING SONGS CHEER THE WEARY SOUL

Caution:  The following content might cause the reader to cheer, jeer, have fears, or bring tears.
This caution was added at the request of my niece who said some of these need a warning label!

There is a cute song, “Here We Are Singing in the Kitchen Rattling the Pots and Pans.”  Children know that signing is good for the soul.  They like lively tunes that they can relate to and enjoy hearing their voices and moving their feet.  There is a lot we can and should learn from children.

Singing is an expression of the heart and a way of verbalizing what we know, need, enjoy, and can associate with. Singing songs can cheer the weary soul. My nephew knows quite a few country songs by heart, and my daughters also have a good many songs committed to memory.

You say you can’t sing, that’s no excuse, just listening to music can also soothe, relax, and pick up your spirits.  My husband and I owned and operated a dairy cow operation for several years. We found that if we played music during the milking process, that they were easier to work with and produced more milk.   Studies have shown that listening to music after surgery promotes healing.  It also relieves stress, sort of like going to the spa without the massage.  Although I would like to have the massage too, and it is also beneficial, I can’t afford one every day; but I can sing or listen to music!  It will lift your spirits!

Have you ever listened to someone sing in the shower?  They are “closet” singers and can really belt them out when they think no one is watching or listening.  It doesn’t matter where you are or when you do it, just “make a joyful noise!”  Although, I wouldn’t recommend singing in line at the bank, but you can hum, “All the Gold in California is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills, in somebody else’s name.”  It always gets a chuckle and gives you a chance to visit with other people in line, unless they change lanes of course!

Most people are uneasy or at least nervous singing in public, even those who do it professionally; but in private you should be able to give an outstanding performance!   With my love for music, I was of course in our church choir, and was given the responsibility to lead our youth choir.  We were to perform in a competition, with strict guidelines we were to adhere to, and if we didn’t, points would be taken off the score.  I had my notes and music ready, and was looking them over when our pianist asked, “Why do you have, My Name Is Carolyn Lee at the top of the page?!”  “Because, when I get up there, there is a possibility that I won’t know who I am, or what my name is!” I replied.

With the invention, availability and access to the internet, and by typing in a few key words of the song, you can freely find free lyrics to just about any song that you want.   What a fun project for your kids. Ask for their help and they can learn the songs and improve their computer skills at the same time!  If you don’t have a computer, go to the library, the school, or possibly even your church.  *I use this method to avoid having to type them all into the body of this document.

In my life I have had the privilege to perform songs at weddings, and the humbling honor of singing at way to many funerals.  The weddings were a hopeful beginning to a long union; some of them have lasted, some didn’t.   Funerals, however, are the final stop here on earth.  Nothing can be more rewarding or heartbreaking than singing at the final tribute to friends and relatives.

A particular heartbreak for me was singing at a former classmate’s funeral.  After graduation, he had left the area, and made some very bad life choices.  He had lived a very rough life, got mixed up in gangs, criminal activities, and used drugs.  Now, I know I am not the judge of another person’s relationship with God, but by looking at the outward expressions of his life, I did have some concerns.  While standing and waiting for the introduction to the first song, I promise you, the inside of my mouth sweated.  I don’t mean saliva, but sweat!  Not even sure if that is physically possible, but it happened. 

There have been times, I’ve sung at funerals for older people who had lived good long lives and they are difficult enough; but to sing at a child’s funeral is very emotionally challenging.  One of my friends had a child that died in a crib death.  She had lost her first child at birth and this was her fourth living child, and her only girl.  The temptation to not answer the phone was very strong, since I was sure that since I had sung at the first funeral that I would be again be called upon.  After agreeing that I would sing, I couldn’t find a song that satisfied my heart as the right one for the funeral service.  Pulling out my collection of song books (that was before the internet) I searched until I found this one. 

LITTLE ONES LIKE ME

                                                 Sung like a lullaby – in a rocking chair

Jesus, when He left the sky, And for sinners came to die, And for sinners came to die, In His mercy passed not by Little ones like me. Little ones, little ones, Little ones like me; In His mercy passed not by Little ones like me. Mothers then the Savior sought, In the places where He taught, And to Him their children brought— Little ones like me. Little ones, little ones, Little ones like me; And to Him their children brought—Little ones like me. Did the Savior say them nay? No! He kindly bade them stay, Suffered none to turn away, Little ones like me. Little ones, little ones, Little ones like me; Suffered none to turn away, Little ones like me. ’Twas for them His life He gave, To redeem them from the grave; Jesus now will gladly save, Little ones like me. Little ones, little ones, Little ones like me; Jesus now will gladly save Little ones like me.

We don’t know why God gives us children and then takes them back; perhaps we aren’t even supposed to ask why.  But we do know he has given us the joy of having them in our lives, even for a brief period.  He has also placed on us the responsibility to guide them in their journey back to Him.  Be sure and look up the words to:  

 Here We Are, Singing in the Kitchen  (Is everybody ready now? Yeah! Okay!)

In two previous segments, I have not been successful in putting the following song in the notes.  This time I really must to ease my heart and soul.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

  Candid Conversation With Carolyn Lee

THERE’S WITHIN MY HEART A MELODY

1.            There's within my heart a melody

Jesus whispers sweet and low:

Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,

in all of life's ebb and flow.

Refrain:  For the full benefit  sing this every time!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

sweetest name I know,

fills my every longing,

keeps me singing as I go.

2.            All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,

discord filled my heart with pain;

Jesus swept across the broken strings,

stirred the slumbering chords again.

(Refrain)

3.            Though sometimes he leads through waters deep,

trials fall across the way,

though sometimes the path seems rough and steep,

see his footprints all the way.

(Refrain)

4.            Feasting on the riches of his grace,

resting neath his sheltering wing,

always looking on his smiling face,

that is why I shout and sing.

(Refrain)

5.            Soon he's coming back to welcome me

far beyond the starry sky;

I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown;

I shall reign with him on high.

(Refrain)