Series: The Word
Psalm 98:1 ESV
When my children were young we practiced singing. It wasn’t forced or planned. We just sang a lot. We sang church songs. We sang silly songs. We sang made up songs. I suppose it’s no surprise that two of my children majored in music in college.
We sang at home and we sang in the car.
At one point we were gifted an old old olive green twenty year old monster size Chrysler. It just might have been the ugliest car on the planet, but it comfortably sat at least six people (or 9 children).
I don’t remember if it even had an air conditioner, but in the warm months we would roll all the windows down and cruise down the road singing to the top of our lungs!
This car probably had the biggest engine of any car we ever owned, so it was really easy for me to do 75-80 mph without intending to go fast. Plus, since I’m 4’11” tall, and I couldn’t really sit in a position where I could see over the settling wheel. Cars made in the 1960’s didn’t have a feature where you could elevate the seat.
We were quite the sight!
My kids were pretty young when we got the car, so they weren’t old enough to be embarrassed about the “tank”. That’s what we called the big ole green car.
Looking back, I can’t remember any other car that we had so much fun in!
I’m not at all surprised that Psalm 98:1 reminded me of the “tank”!
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”
See, part of the deal was that when we were gifted the “tank” we really did need a car that could seat six people (and friends).
AND, did I mention that the trunk was large enough in the ‘68 Chrysler that we had more than enough room to take anything we wanted.
Anything…
That meant every child could take whatever they wanted and no arguments ensued. However, I was always pretty willing to let them take what they wanted to take in any car on a trip even if they had to put it at their feet or hold it in their lap.
I taught in children’s church and I did a children’s sermon in regular worship for more than twenty years. When we were at a church where the children had their own worship space, I did the sermon and when the congregation wanted the children in the same service (we called it big church) I did a children’s sermon there.
I’ve found that praising God comes in all shapes and sizes. For a child, the smallest (and sometimes even the silliest) thing makes them so happy that they thank God and happily sing praises to God.
It’s natural to them.
Since by today’s standards I’m about as tall as a fourth or a fifth grader I think God gave me the gift of having the heart of a child! Two of my grandchildren just started fourth grade and they are nearly as tall as grandma!
That tells us that Praising God can come in all shapes and sizes…
I know it’s probably a little silly, but sometimes in life it’s the little things that matter, especially to a child (or a really small grandma!)
Spiritual Practice: Practice Singing to God
Sing praises to God.
In God, Deborah
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