How did Jesus choose His disciples?

         Since moving to a new city and a new congregation, one of the things I miss is not knowing all the children. Before, I knew all the children’s name, and I was able to interact with them even if they were not or had not been in my class. In a new place, it takes time. Though we are in a smaller congregation, I am still trying to learn the little people’s names.

There is a little girl with whom I became acquainted last summer during Vacation Bible School. She visited in my room while I was setting things up for my class. She is energetic, happy, and generally adorable. She never meets a stranger, and she talks like a grown-up, though she is only five.

A few weeks ago, she and her mother were sitting behind us during the worship service. I don’t remember the song we were singing, but I could hear Emilee singing clearly. It was one of the teens’ devotional songs; and since her parents work with our teens, she obviously had sung it with them in devotionals.

After worship, Emilee was hiding behind the doors going out of thee auditorium. She jumped out, attempting to scare me. She had a big smile on her face, and laughed when I responded to her prank. I took the opportunity to tell her I had heard her singing. She smiled even bigger when I told her she has a pretty voice. She really does! She didn’t miss a note or a word. I asked her if she liked to sing; and she replied, “Oh, yes. I love to sing, and that is my favorite song”.

In talking with her mother later, I discovered that Emilee really focuses on singing. She loves to sing. She tries to learn the words and the music, and thankfully her precious mother encourages her to sing out.

It occurred to me that parents rarely encourage children to sing the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs we are privileged to enjoy in our worship services. I recently asked my fourth and fifth grade Bible class what their favorite part of worship is. They all said the singing. Unfortunately, many adults do not feel that way. Most congregations have a “singing night”, either Sunday night or Wednesday night; and many people stay home because they don’t like to sing.

Do you realize what a privilege it is to sing praises to God? Do you realize that we are commanded to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord? Do you realize that we are to teach and admonish one another when we sing? I suspect we all need to take the singing praises a lot more seriously.

Many years ago, a little boy sat on the front row with his dad during the worship service. When the song leader began the song, this little boy sang loudly. In fact, he could be heard above everyone. His father tried to quiet him, but it never worked. My mother told the father, “Leave that boy alone. He’ll be directing our singing one of these days”. Sure enough, Steve has been directing singing for many years. He still sings loudly, and you can tell he loves doing it.

Steve and Emilee are great examples of praising God in the way we are commanded to sing. On opposite ends of the age scale, they exhibit the true meaning of sing and be happy.

Sandra Oliver