I grew up in a small church in a small town. We were there everytime the doors were open - Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night and every prayer meeting, youth group, bake sale or revival that fell in between. I learned Bible stories there, I cried and prayed there, I was baptized there, I made dear lifelong friends there and probably most importantly to my faith life, I sang there. Now, just so you know, I can't sing. I used to think I could and at one time, someone felt sorry for me and let me sing in the choir and tour with the state youth choir, but let me be really clear again - I. Can't. Sing. But I love to. And I particularly love to sing church songs - old hyms and choruses that I learned at the First Church of God in Somerset, Kentucky.
I love to sing those songs to my boys. I would rock them to sleep at night when they were babies and every old hym I ever sang would come back to me. Trevor still loves for me to sing to him (momma's voice is always sweet, no matter how out of tune it is).
When the words of those songs come out of my mouth, something that transcends this time and place happens to me. I forget all that causes me stress and I sit in the presence of my creator. I am comforted and reminded of the origin of peace.
I love the simplistic, but at the same time, almost mind-boggling, theology:
When peace like a river attendeth my way. When sorrows like see billows roll. Whatever my lot. Thou hast taught me to say. It is well. It is well. With my soul.
My Jesus I love you. I know thou art mine. For thee all the follies of sin I resign. My gracious redeemer. My savior art thou. If ever I love you, my Jesus tis now.
There is a name I love to hear. I love to sing its worth. It sounds like music in my ear. The sweetest name on Earth. Oh how I love Jesus. Oh how I love Jesus. Oh how I love Jesus . . . because he first loved me.
My faith has changed and grown since I learned those words, but the basic message has never left me. My mom and I were discussing that church where I learned those songs last week and I told her that it made me who I am. It laid the foundation for my entire life. From "I am a Child of God," to "Precious Lord" and "Amazing Grace," I am so grateful to those who wrote those words on my heart and allowed me the opportunity to sing them to my beutiful boys.
