I never thought I would be directing a children’s choir.
But my children are growing up. As most parents do, I often find myself thinking about what they will be like when they are grown. What kind of a husband will my sons be? What kind of wife will by daughter be? What will they excel in? What will they struggle with? What hobbies will they have or what books will they like?
And I can’t help but think about what they will be like as parents. As silly as this sounds, one of my main motivations for leading a children’s choir is thinking about these 3 kids of mine becoming parents one day. When I imagine my sons rocking their infant children at 2:00am trying to bless their wives by letting them sleep, I want my sons to be comfortable singing “Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing.” When I think of my daughter nursing her baby, I want her quietly whisper meaningful songs to my grandchild, like “I Need The Every Hour” instead of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” I want my grandchildren hearing God’s praises naturally pour from their parents’ hearts. So I needed to make sure that they knew those songs of worship from an early age, from the young ages when kids learn things that stick with them for life (who of you can still sing the “50 States” songs or some multiplication songs just because you learned it when you were young and a sponge?).
So, I volunteered to lead a little choir at my church.
Are you ready to hear about all of my musical accomplishments and background that add up to make me the most qualified individual in the world to start and lead a children’s choir? Ready to be WOW-ed?!?
Well, sorry to disappoint you!
Here is a little about my musical skills:
- I can only play the top hand of music on a keyboard and only for songs for which I already know the melody and words.
- I have never been in a choir until I was 35 (I’m 37 now) when I joined our small church adult choir.
- I took piano when I was a little girl but my mom eventually let me quit. (I still fuss at her for that). I did rise to first chair of the trumpet section of the Devine High School Band. So, I can read music and know a little music theory, but I’m hardly busting out my trumpet in a small church Sunday School room with a bunch of kids.
See, not a very impressive musical resume. But when I look in Psalms, my Bible says “make a joyful noise”, not a pretty one. And I love to sing out praises to the Lord. And I love when I hear my own children doing the same thing.
If you are reading this blog and feeling ill-equipped to lead the children of your church in belting out praises to God, be encouraged that the Lord will equip you! Your voice will improve by the power of the Holy Spirit! You will find ways to have the accompaniment that you need. I’m certain of it!
If I Can Do It, You Can Do It!
I will show you how!