Grateful (How Can I Keep From Singing?)

It's been so beautiful lately.

The sunsets have been glorious.

Flowers have been opening . . .

Which has not helped my allergies.

Still, it's nice to see things grow.

I was thinking of gratitude today,

Of all the things I thank God for . . .  (Like my warm bed, my family, my meals, my music, . . .)

And all of the things I forget to thank God for.  (Like the yarn I love to work with, the games I like to play, the movies I like to watch, . . . the clothes I am wearing, the roof over my head, . . .)

I have so much to be grateful for.

Thank You.

Somehow, this led to me thinking about why I make music.

Why is singing so important to me?

Why do I so enjoy weaving words together?

Why is it that seeing someone playing music makes me want to play, too?

Why is it that I feel the urge and can't resist picking up an instrument and making it sing?

Why do I sing along with the radio?

Part of it is because I am passionate about music.  It has found a place deep inside of me and has become an essential part of who I am.

I think there's something more, though.

I think it's a form of gratitude.

When I think about what I've written, I realize that many of my songs have a common theme.


I often write about lessons that I've learned, promises that I've been given, things that I've been blessed with . . .


These are things that I am grateful for.

This is one way I give thanks.

I think that I sing and play for similar reasons.

I think that making music is one way I give thanks for the fact that I have ears to hear and a voice to sing.

I think that I'm so grateful to have music to listen to . . .

Grateful that people work to make music . . .

Grateful to the One I sing to . . .

That I can't help but express my gratitude.

 

I think that I'm so grateful to have an instrument to play that I can't help but play it.

I think that I'm so grateful to be able to write that I can't help but write and keep writing.

I am so grateful.

How can I keep from singing?

My life goes on in endless song:

Above earth's lamentation,

I catch the sweet, tho' far-off hymn

That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing;

It finds an echo in my soul--

How can I keep from singing?

What tho' my joys and comfort die?

The Lord my Saviour liveth;

What tho' the darkness gather round?

Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,

While to that refuge clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;

I see the blue above it;

And day by day this pathway smooths,

Since first I learned to love it.

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

A fountain ever springing;

All things are mine since I am his--

How can I keep from singing?

I am so grateful for everything . . .

For all of the things I've been blessed with . . .

Even the ones that have hurt me . . .

For all of the beauty that surrounds me . . .

Even though that beauty is sometimes tainted by the products of our human nature . . .

For every sunrise . . .

And every sunset . . .

For every day . . .

And every breath . . .

For hope when there


Are no days left.


I am so grateful.


How can I keep from singing?




The bold lyrics are from the hymn "How Can I Keep From Singing?".  (Ginny Owens has a beautiful version of this hymn on her CD Say Amen:  Hymns and Songs of Faith.)