At Home in Georgia

Music

I've finally gotten around to figuring out how to add a "playlist" to my blog.  I hope you enjoy it.

Music has such a special place in my heart and in my life.  Of all the things God has made for us to enjoy, music must be the most varied and emotional thing He's given us. 

My love and appreciation for music probably comes from my dad.  I remember being very little listening to "old" 45 rpm records, and Dad trying to teach me to tap the beat.  I just didn't get it.  But then he'd ask me if I could hear all the different instruments in a particular song.  I learned to appreciate all the varied parts of even the sublest instrument.  Each time I listened to a familiar song, I would pick out a different instrument or part to follow.  Well.... I still have no sense of rhythm (just ask my husband, who leads worship occasionally... he knows I still just don't get it).  I can tap out a beat, but that's about it.  When my brother and I got older, we'd all play "name that tune", and we got good enough that we could name a song within the first three notes.  My dad has an appreciation for many different types of music, too, so I think I got that from him too. 

I took about 8 years of piano lessons and, through no fault of my music teachers over the years, gained approximately 2 years of real piano knowledge.  Sigh... I just do not have a natural knack for music.  I can't sing, either!  The problem is that I have the disadvantage of knowing what a song is SUPPOSED to sound like, so I can't just "make a joyful noise" and not care that it sounds pretty pathetic.  :)

I'm currently playing (or trying to play) in our church handbell choir, and I really enjoy it.  It's totally different from any other instrument I've ever tried to play.  But that's an amazing thing, too, when you realize the teamwork it takes and how music is made by many people playing one or two notes at a time.

I've decided that maybe it's my lack of talent or "knack" for it that makes music so special to me.  When someone can sing beautifully and effortlessly, when I watch someone play the piano and it's just-- natural.... do they really understand what a gift that is?  It used to frustrate me, but now I just enjoy it and thank God for the gift of music and for His gift to so many of the ability to play, sing, write, compose, arrange.

God has used music to comfort me and encourage me in so many ways.  Besides the peace that washes over me when I listen to beautiful music, the words hold so much more meaning when set to a melody.  Since I always have had a love for music and since I grew up in church, I've naturally memorized (without ever trying) many, many wonderful hymns.  Not just the first verse, but even less known verses.  The music just made the words "stick".  Whenever I write the words to songs that have been special to me, they look so lonely and sound so plain without the music to go with them. 

One song I love, but couldn't find for my playlist is one by Selah that was so amazing to hear for the first time shortly after my friend's sister died in a car accident, leaving behind 2 small boys.  And recently, with the deaths of my uncle and my grandmother, this song has meant so much to me.