Sing to Your Kids

We heard from another girltalk reader Alice in response to Mom’s post. She shared with us her family’s hymn-singing tradition:

“Right after my first child (who is now 7 was born) I heard Joni Erickson Tada talk about how much hymns meant to her immediately after her accident.  She recommended choosing “Life Hymns” for your children.  So my husband and I have done just that.  Each child (there are three living children) has their own hymn.  We have chosen it before they were born and sing it to them the first time we hold them.  We sing it each night before they go to bed – and before each nap.  We make a special point to bring them into worship (until they are old enough for the entire service) when “their hymn” is being sung.  My brother has sung each one’s hymn at their baptism.  When we baptized our third child, her older brother and sister had learned her hymn as well (a wonderful byproduct of this family tradition) so they joined their uncle as he sang in the worship service.  “Come Thou Fount” was chosen for our oldest, “Be Thou My Vision” for the middle child, and “Fairest Lord Jesus” for our third.  In crisis, sadness, or joy, I find myself singing each child their hymn and taking much comfort in their songs.  It is amazing to watch the older two – who also sing to the baby when she is upset.  They always choose her hymn.  The Lord’s grace and mercy is reminded to our family each day by these beautiful songs.”

What a wonderful legacy for her girls! I'm inspired (despite my not-so-great singing voice) to sing truth to my children and to teach them to sing to each other.

“I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 89:1