I was struck by an unusual sight one day as I walked by the kindergarten room. There was Sophia sitting in a little chair right in front of the gerbil cage, in a world of her own. The rest of the children had gone for the day, but for some reason, Sophia was still there, singing. She swayed back and forth, pouring out her heart as she kept her eyes on the gerbil playing amidst the wood shavings. She's singing to the gerbil! I thought.

Do we sing with such fervour to those whom we love? We do at birthdays! Most of us have not lost our childlike enjoyment of that moment in the spotlight when, with all eyes upon us, we listen to a joyful song as our family and friends celebrate with us another year of life.

A mother sings her fussy baby to sleep. The baby doesn't understand the words of the lullaby, but is soothed by the rhythm and gentle tones of its mother's voice. Even my preschool grandchildren liked to have a song sung to them at bedtime.

Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace. (NIV)

During this pandemic, I've found comfort in a joyful song based on this verse, "The Blessing", especially the version "The Blessing [Kids]". I first heard it in the early days of the pandemic, when our worship team sang it to an empty church. We were able to hear them, because they sang to us, a congregation in our individual homes, via livestream. My anxiety is calmed when I hear this song. It reminds me where my strength and confidence lie — not in my problems and the insecurity of the world situation — but in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

But even more amazing are the joyful songs that the Lord sings over us:

Zephaniah 3:17 – For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. (NLT)

Just as Sophia sang over the gerbil and we sing over our children, the Lord rejoices over us with joyful songs. Let us all realize and rejoice in the fact that God, our mighty Saviour, lives among us, delights in us, and calms all our fears.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You rejoice in us with gladness, quieting us with Your love. You even sing over us! Lord, bless us and keep us; Lord, make Your face shine on us and be gracious to us; Lord, turn Your face toward us and give us peace. Amen.

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About the author:

Alice Burnett <terrencera.burnett@gmail.com>
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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