Open Your Ears and Heart

There are songs we have listened to for years. They become common place enough that we can sing the words without missing a beat. My grands bounce around down in the basement singing I am a C! It was my favorite song in VBS and Mrs.C continues to teach the kids this song during music in Sunday School and VBS. The 5 yr old can’t read but can spell ETERNALLY!

Years ago, Heidi Hackett and I went to see Billy Joel and Elton John at Citizens Bank Park. There is something about watching these 2 performers behind the piano keys in a full blown dual of the fingers and voices. I can’t listen to either performer today without remembering that amazing night. Every single song had us singing at the top of our lungs. Benny and the Jets was epic! Piano Man even more so! I have chills just thinking of that night. If you get the chance to sing with 50,000 people, do it!

Have you ever stopped and listened to a song you are familiar with and really let the words crawl into your heart? So many times we know them but we don’t let them speak to us? Sunday during the pageant, I stood in the doorway and watched everyone sing the beautiful songs of Christmas. Kileen McNeill began to sing Mary Did You Know. We all are familiar with this song.  I watched people with smiles on their faces, singing and listening to Kileen. I looked over and was stopped dead in my tracks.  My script fell to the floor and I began to cry. Maddy as Mary was standing, rocking Elouise as Baby Jesus. The moment I realized this was happening was when the words Kileen sang were “When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?” As a Mother, knowing what Mary knew at that point and not knowing what this world had in store for her son, that HE was the Savior of the world, what was in her head? That she as a mother would protect the Son of God until he could protect us? That her baby boy would one day rule the nations, that he’s heaven’s perfect lamb?  That the sleeping Child you’re holding is the Great, I Am? What a heavy load as a mother but what an absolute blessing to be the one to bring Him into this world. Seeing our Mary rocking our baby Jesus just took the words to a whole new level for me. I will never ever listen to this song and not think of Mary and her sacrifices and joys raising our King.

Close your eyes while the Praise band sings at 9am or Christmas Eve. Open your ears and heart during the cantata. Let the words in their songs crawl into your heart. Listen to the words and their depth. Let them show you the reason for the season and that music is a gift from the Lord.

- Liz Sabath

Ephesians 5:19
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord

Matthew 11:15
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

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