I still love to listen to children's radio on Saturday mornings even though I no longer have children at home. Their young voices lifted in praise to God bring tears to my eyes ... while joy bubbles up in my heart.
In early summer, we brought the Vacation Bible School music DVD to North Carolina and let our grandchildren help us learn the music, words and motions that we would be teaching in a couple of weeks.
Even more enthralling for me was to see our 3-year-old granddaughter, Hayley, sing, dance and copy the motions. Her precious voice (a truly melodic singing voice) joining in with ours and with the other children had me smiling from ear-to-ear.
But, when we were out and about in the car one day and she began singing the songs that she remembered (on key!), I got choked up. This little one was really catching the message and the joy of singing praise to God.
Our 7-year-old grandson, Jonathon, was involved in a Cub Scout Day Camp for a week. Each day brought new challenges and adventures. And the truth in the songs became a strengthening of his confidence and courage knowing he could trust God in every situation. His soft voice from the back seat assured me the songs were helping him connect in a fresh way to the God he loves.
At home once again, we led the music for our VBS children. Once again, there's nothing like hearing their young voices, seeing the light in their eyes and smiles on their faces when music of truth and beauty is presented to them.
We read in Psalm 149: 1, NKJV, "Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song ... Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King."
It's important that we help children understand that God deserves to be praised. Share with them that he is our Creator. Everything we can see ... animals, people, sky, sea, and more; as well as what we can't see is made by him. He is Lord and, even when people get out of control, God is in control and we can trust him no matter what. He is our Savior who forgives our sins because Jesus took our place on the cross. Jesus loves all the children of the world ... and all the grown-ups, too.
With this foundation of truth, their praises will bubble up from their hearts, to their lips and to instruments they may play.
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." (Psalm 150: 6) Selah
Jan Merop is a News-Sun correspondent.
Sunday, October 07, 2012 - www.newssun.com/100712-pause