I grew up singing. In fact, when I was really little, my mother, a teacher and single mom of three, assembled us as a family band to help make ends meet. We played shows at churches and libraries, connecting books with faith and music. My siblings and I also wore matching outfits for these shows… but I digress.
I sang in honors choirs, church ensembles, and school groups. I sang in musicals and plays, in the car and at camp. I wasn’t destined for Broadway or anything, and I never got the lead role or concert solos, but I did love to sing!
Yet there was rejection along the way. While I was usually cast in the chorus of two musicals a year in high school, there was the one musical with a new director who cut me. Entirely. I watched all my friends practice without me, and it was so painful. Then there was the time I auditioned for solo and small ensemble parts in a show. The director told me (out loud in front of other people!) that I was “ok, but definitely not solo-ready,” which stung for years. A few more stinging moments came along the way and I started to doubt myself. I doubted my voice, I knew it wasn’t good enough, and my confidence was dashed. I stopped singing in public and in choirs, and resigned myself to be a shower-and-car singer only.
And then I met my husband, who was (is) a self-taught musician. He fell in love with me and with my voice. We sang together around campfires. We sang together in the car. We sang together at church. He asked me to sing at our wedding, and together we started a little praise band at church.
His love and confidence in me helped heal a part of myself I’d closed off and deemed inadequate.
We still sing together. We brought that piece of who we are when we changed churches. We sing with our kids, writing little songs and always with the kitchen radio on. We began sharing “Fireside Chats” this month, choosing a song that we love to sing together, filming our duet, and putting it on the internet. (Such a vulnerable feeling! But I’m doing it!) And now our kids are auditioning for choirs, singing in little ensembles at church, and rockin’ in the minivan with us.
I sang well by myself. But I found my voice when I started to sing with his.
Historically, singing has served as a significant means of expression, communication, and praise. I love that throughout Scripture we have scores of examples of people pouring out their hearts, together, in song — Moses and the Israelites for one, Paul and Silas for another, and maybe lesser-known (but super tough and cool) Deborah and Barak.
Did you know that Mary is the only woman in the New Testament to contribute a song? When Mary is told she’s going to have a baby, that she is going to birth the Son of God, she first responds with a ‘yes’. Then she heads out to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is also having a miracle baby. When Mary greets Elizabeth, her baby begins leaping in the womb, and in reply to Elizabeth’s exclamation Mary sings a song:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name…”
Luke 1:46-49 NIV
There are also numerous passages about singing. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Psalm 98:4-6 NIV
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16 NLT
And in my very favorite, Zephaniah reminds us that God delights in us, so much so that He sings over us!
Who knows how well the people in the Bible sang? For all we know, it was an off-key mess. But God knew their hearts and smiled at their song. As we near Christmas, I hope you are able to enjoy carols and hymns, and the pure joy that comes in making a joyful noise, especially together. Whether we’re a lovely soprano voice in a choir or an off-key solo wonder, it’s all glory to God!
This Christmas, with our lives and our lips, may we all make a joyful noise for the One who is Emmanuel, God with us.
And tell me: what are your favorite Advent and Christmas songs to sing?
For more Advent devotions from Anna, pick up her book A Moment of Christmas: 25 December Devotions for Moms. There’s still time to give yourself the gift of peace, encouragement, and inspiration this Advent season!
Oh Come All Ye Faithful…. the chorus, tears every time. Oh Come Let Us Adore Him … I think of my daughter, sister, mom and dad adoring Jesus and someday me joining them! <3
Love that!
Bless you for sharing your vulnerability! I hurt with your early hurt, AND sing with your joy! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Sue – that means a lot.
It’s hard to pick a favorite. I love the old ones but I do love Mary did you know. The words are beautiful and I have so many loved ones in a heaven that I look forward to singing with. My sweet husband for one!
Here’s to that glorious day!
Thank you for sharing this! Yes, even yesterday I teared up with the hymn sang at the close of the service. What a wonderful way to praise our Maker. Love so many of the Christmas songs, but one of my favorites is, Mary, Did You Know?
I’m always tearing up at those hymns too <3
Oh holy night!
I first heard this when I was just maybe 5 or 6, in the Pentecostal church in Grandin Fl, that I grew up in. It was around Christmas and the most beautiful voice I had ever heard, sang this in that church. Ever since then it has been my favorite song.
I wanted to sing that song myself, but my gift was not the gift of a beautiful voice. I’m fine with that… I just listen to others sing it. I love the way Third Day sings it….
Such a beautiful hymn… great choice.
Dear Anna……..I always get excited when I see you have given us the devotional and you certainly did not disappoint today. I did not know that Mary was the only one in the New Testament to compile a song. Wonderful news in this season. I would have to say that my favorite Christmas song is ” O Holy Night “. When I was in high school, many, many years ago we sang this in our yearly Xmas Concert for our parents and whoever wanted to come. It was kind of a solo with 4 students and I was picked as one; however, it was always a boy’s part as my voice is low and I sang alto with the girls, but there was not a boy that could sing the tenor part so there I was. At the time I was always sort of upset that I always had to sing a boys part, because my voice was not good enough to sing a girls part, but as a got older, I realized that I really was fortunate to be picked at all. Our music teacher told me not to be sad because your voice is what God gave you and I had never really looked at it from that perspective. I love the Christmas season, but not for all the presents, because as my friends and I feel that Christmas is too commercialized and soon they will be starting “Black Friday” and all the other Big Deals before Halloween. We all call it “Holy Days” not holidays. After all, we are celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is not a contest to see who can buy the most presents for their children and relatives. Thank you Anna. You are so special to me for all you help me get through each day. My husband and son still do not communicate with me. My son has dismissed me as his mother and has not allowed me to see or speak to my 14 year old grandson. That is the only family I have left and I found out that my son and his wife intercept any card I send, rip it up and destroy it before he gets home from school. They tell him that see Gram doesn’t even care about you because she didn’t even send you a card. What a heartbreaking thing for me, but I continue to send him cards as I am in the process of writing a letter to only be delivered to him when I die and in it I will tell him how he has always been the love of my life. I haven’t seen him for over 2 years now so I don’t even know what he looks like or what he is interested in etc. etc. There is so much more to this story, but I have already bored you long enough. Anna, You keep singing and I am so happy you found a man who really loves you and your voice. Have a Blessed Christmas and you are right, “God isn’t really interested with how we sing, but that we do sing and He smiles at us.”. Love to you………..Betsy Basile
Gabriel’s Message by Sting or Matt Maher, and Heaven and Earth by Leslie Odom Jr.
Ooh I love Leslie’s Christmas album!!
One of my very favorites, that seems somewhat lesser known, is Welcome to Our World.
Anna love everything you wrote in today’s devotion. To do with making a joyful noise this season. It makes me any time of year not just Christmas time want to make a joyful noise onto the Lord. There is a song I can’t remember all the words it says “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” The words go Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth. Then it goes on make a loud noise and rejoice sing praises! There are more words to the song all excellent. I love the kids version of it. That tell us to Make a noise to the Lord all the time. Two of my favourite songs this time of year that I love to sing my heart out are. 1: Away in a Manger. Some of the words go. Away in a manger no crib for a bed. The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The starts in the bright sky looked down where He lay. The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing. The Baby awakes. But little Lord Jesus. No crying He makes. I love you Lord Jesus. Look down from the sky. And stay by my side unit morning is nigh. Be near me Lord Jesus I ask you to stay. Close by me forever. And love me I pray.
Bless all the dear Children. In your tender care. And fit us for heaven. To live with you there.
Yes people say this is mostly a kids Christmas song. But I say no as it a song for Kids and Adults too. The words the story of Jesus in the manger. The rest are us asking the Lord Jesus to stay close to us and fit us for Heaven to live with Jesus there. The song say it all. The next one I like to listen to it and sing it when at home. You hardly ever would here it in a Church at this time of year. Yes you might get it played for to listen to. But I love it as it makes you think. Did Mary person know after giving birth to Jesus. It is called. “Mary did you know” some of the word are. Mary did you know. That your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary did you know. That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered will soon deliver you. 2: Mary did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? Mary did you know. That your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand. Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels tried?
And when you kiss your little baby. You’ve kissed the face of God. Mary did you know? This song I love it too. It makes me think did Mary know that her baby boy would do all in the song. I not know the answer until I get to Glory one day. Then I can ask Mary myself. They are two songs I love to sing anytime of the year. As words so true. Like other songs sung this time of year. So let us make a joyful noise unto the Lord not just at this time of year. But always. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co. Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
Beautiful Anna!
“This Christmas, with our lives and our lips, may we all make a joyful noise for the One who is Emmanuel, God with us.”
Amen to that!! I LOVE to sing, too. I always tell people that I’m a “blender” (my voice blends well alongside others) and not a soloist. I’m so grateful that Jesus encourages us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. What may be noise to others, may be the sound of sweetness to God’s ears. Thanks for this uplifting article!!
I looove that, Felicia!!
Anna,
My favorite song is silent night. Can you share the link to your “fireside chats”
Sending you advent Joy,
Lisa Wilt♥️♥️
“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
One of my favorites for as long as
I can remember is Away in A manger.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel is one of my favorites, followed by several “normal” ones that have some really good verses [O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, O Little Town of Bethlehem, It Came upon a Midnight Clear] but also “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” – I love-love-love the songs that acknowledge, somewhere in them, that *things are broken* but that there is hope because God is here. (the verses to We Three Kings are also worthwhile, but often it’s just the first verse and then the chorus over and over, and… sigh, what a waste! 🙂 That “King, and God, and Sacrifice” line in the last verse: chills!!!)
So, so good.
“O Holy Night” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem” are two of my favorites, as well as “What Child Is This?” which reminds of having played Mary in our living Nativity when I was 8.