Music

On most days, my husband and I try to dedicate ourselves to keeping healthy.  That includes making better food choices (the 80/20 rule) and keeping active as much as possible, usually at the start of our day.  In order to make this needed routine more pleasant, I proudly wear my pale pink headphones (a birthday gift) and have a selection of the music appropriate for the exercise that day.  On days that we go to the local health club my music station, to keep me motivated on the treadmill, is quick and lively, with music that keeps my heart rate up.  The times that I do my walk outside, I choose my stations that are more prayerful and uplifting as I walk my course.

But music is also essential to me when attending Mass each week.  There are certain hymns for me that can block out all the outside world’s chaos and allows me to focus on what’s most important – loving and thanking God for all my blessings that week and also prepares me for the week ahead.

I decided to poll a few of my good friends, asking, “What are some of your favorite hymns?”  Here are a few of their top picks; but maybe you have ones of your own.

1.  How Great Thou Art; 2.  Make Me a Channel of Your Peace; 3.  Be Not Afraid; 4. Keep Your Eyes on Me; 5.  Here I am Lord.  Another special one is On Eagles Wings.

If you follow weekly www.fromgodslips.blog, it always includes music that compliments the word for the week.  Many times, my selections are contemporary Christian songs; but let’s not let go of the familiar and traditional worship music – the hymns that tug at our heart and, for me, are another form of prayer.  These songs that are close to our hearts, both in the words and musical notes, create and allow us to feel God’s presence, help us during our worship time and remind us what is truly important as we begin each day.

These songs also hold stories for us.  One of my father-in-law’s favorite songs was Ava Maria.  I remember many times watching the tears well up in his eyes whenever it was sung during Mass.  It reminded him of my mother-in-law; the woman he loved and shared his life for 70 years.

Take a moment to listen (and maybe even sing along) to one of your favorite hymns that holds special meaning.  I think you’ll be surprised how it will lift up your prayer time.  Perhaps you’ll even consider sharing your favorite song and the story in comments at www.fromgodslips.blog.  Or maybe you know someone that needs to be start their week off by sharing these words and music with them.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16