Many of our friends and family know of my father in law’s recent passing. I’m still experiencing “pockets of grief” now and then. Like a plane ride that sails smoothly and then out of a clear blue sky you hit a little turbulence. The other day I was driving and fighting off an ugly cry. I made it through the day just fine but as my little one snuggled up to me for our nightly chat she began to talk about missing our little beagle who passed last year. Guys, I couldn’t help it. The sneaky tears that I held in slipped out unbidden one after another. With her worried little face looking into mine, my daughter demanded in a whisper, “Mommy! Don’t cry! Mommy, please don’t cry!”
I wiped my face and then we sang.
“I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my pain. I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord”
As I sang I felt the weight lift and the heartache eased some. Words and melody wiped a few more minutes away in the passage of time. Time heals all wounds they say. As I sang I thought of David before he was king. He would sing to Saul. When Saul was tormented, David sang away the troubles of the man he was to replace. Words and melody wiping away spirits that plagued.
I remember a time when I was scared to death. I won’t go into detail but we were in a spiritual battle. I sang “The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower”. It was the only church song I knew all the words to! I can’t say that single song won the war that day but we came out victorious in the battle and eventually (after prayer and fasting) won the war too. There is something powerful in our praise.
Keep on singing!
Hennekes At Home 