Talk About Pop Music--Singing Through the Static
Where we live there are a lot of winding country roads which effect our ability to receive a consistent radio signal. (Who listens to radio anymore? Spotify, XM, playlists from my phone...yeah, yeah, I'm aware of these things, but I still love the spontaneity and variety of good old fashioned FM radio--and so much so that I'm not even deterred by a poor signal). It's commonplace for my kids and I to be singing along to a song only to be interrupted by static or worse, a competing radio signal which gives us the pleasure of two songs at once.
Yesterday my girls and I were enjoying a particular favorite song when another signal encroached. We kept singing along to our tune as it remained the dominant. It started to fade, and only a word or two emerged amidst the chit-chat of the other station. My youngest daughter stopped singing to ask, "Can you just turn it off?" I said, "Sure, but y'all keep on singing." So they did.
We finished our song in acappella unison, and then I prompted them, "Do you know why I keep the radio station on even when there's static?"
"No."
Do you know why I asked you to keep singing even without the radio?
"Because you like it when we all sing?" she guessed.
I told them, "I like for us to keep singing through the static because I think it's a lot like life. God puts a song in our hearts, and sometimes we hear that song loud and clear. And sometimes it's not that strong."
My eldest jumped in the conversation, "Like the one time, Ms. Amy was giving us instructions of what to make with our play-dough, but all the other people were making noise and we had to focus on her voice over the din." (Yes, my daughter, the reader, uses words like din in casual conversation. Swoon!)
"YES!" I was so glad that she remembered Amy's learning exercise and that she was already making connections, so I continued, "Isn't that what life is like?! Sometimes the song comes easier. Sometimes it's because of help from others--like when we go to church, or read our Bibles, or have spent time with our small group. Do you agree? Aren't you more sure of your "song" then?"
She nodded with wide eyes that gave the expression, "Totally agree!"
"But then sometimes those voices of doubt creep in and try to choke the song," I said.
They both talked about characters from fairy tales who sneak in and try to trick. They used imagery that this is what can be like in our minds. (They are getting so big. So grown and insightful. I am just cherishing these convos.)
Clearly wearing my "mom smile" (apparently I have a smile now that simultaneously embarrasses them while also making them feel uber adored), I finished, "That's why I like for us to practice singing the song over the static because it could be the very thing you need do in life to combat the negative thoughts--find your song to God, and sing it. Not just metaphorically, but sometimes literally. Literally sing it out loud! It's powerful! And sometimes you have to sing it when there's no music at all."
They both nodded, and we found another song to sing.
Their sweet tender hearts help keep the song strong in my life.
Yesterday my girls and I were enjoying a particular favorite song when another signal encroached. We kept singing along to our tune as it remained the dominant. It started to fade, and only a word or two emerged amidst the chit-chat of the other station. My youngest daughter stopped singing to ask, "Can you just turn it off?" I said, "Sure, but y'all keep on singing." So they did.
We finished our song in acappella unison, and then I prompted them, "Do you know why I keep the radio station on even when there's static?"
"No."
Do you know why I asked you to keep singing even without the radio?
"Because you like it when we all sing?" she guessed.
I told them, "I like for us to keep singing through the static because I think it's a lot like life. God puts a song in our hearts, and sometimes we hear that song loud and clear. And sometimes it's not that strong."
My eldest jumped in the conversation, "Like the one time, Ms. Amy was giving us instructions of what to make with our play-dough, but all the other people were making noise and we had to focus on her voice over the din." (Yes, my daughter, the reader, uses words like din in casual conversation. Swoon!)
"YES!" I was so glad that she remembered Amy's learning exercise and that she was already making connections, so I continued, "Isn't that what life is like?! Sometimes the song comes easier. Sometimes it's because of help from others--like when we go to church, or read our Bibles, or have spent time with our small group. Do you agree? Aren't you more sure of your "song" then?"
She nodded with wide eyes that gave the expression, "Totally agree!"
"But then sometimes those voices of doubt creep in and try to choke the song," I said.
They both talked about characters from fairy tales who sneak in and try to trick. They used imagery that this is what can be like in our minds. (They are getting so big. So grown and insightful. I am just cherishing these convos.)
Clearly wearing my "mom smile" (apparently I have a smile now that simultaneously embarrasses them while also making them feel uber adored), I finished, "That's why I like for us to practice singing the song over the static because it could be the very thing you need do in life to combat the negative thoughts--find your song to God, and sing it. Not just metaphorically, but sometimes literally. Literally sing it out loud! It's powerful! And sometimes you have to sing it when there's no music at all."
They both nodded, and we found another song to sing.
Their sweet tender hearts help keep the song strong in my life.
