Ever since Jonah attended the Christmas Eve service with us at Beltway, he unceasingly sings praise and worship music around the house. It’s really the only type of music he sings. Non.STOP. I really should record some of the mis-sings, such as “My God is not dead, He’s surely alive, living on the inside BOILING like a lion….” and “My God never loose the fate, My God never loose the fate!…” which he chants and repeats ad nauseum, and we are yet to figure out which song he is singing! We bought the Unleashed CD from church, and he routinely (or compulsively??) requests to listen to one of 3 songs, which he has named and can distinguish within a couple of notes (He would ROCK “Name that Tune,” I’m certain!). We get in the car, and it always goes something like this: “I wanna sing the Never Give Up song.” or “I wanna sing the Never Let Go song!” Whoa. (Sometimes he’ll request “Deep Cries Out” which we all (including Lexi) heartily sing with the motions, but it’s usually one of the other two). I know where they all are on the CD. I can never remember which is which, so it cracks me up when he requests the “Never Give Up” song, and I turn it to the wrong one. I say, “Is this it?” and within a millisecond, he says, “NO! This is the Never Let Go song!! I want the Never Give UP song!” (Amazing how much demanding sass comes through even while he’s requesting to hear a song about God! LOL!) Today, he demonstrated a classic level of childlike faith, as the Never Give Up song had just played before we got out of the car. Upon our return to the car he (surprisingly) (or not) said, “I wanna sing the Never Give Up song. It’ll come on by itself.” I said, “Do you want me to turn it to the Never Give Up song?” Oh.MY.GOSH! Wrong question, apparently! “NOOOOO! Don’t change it! It’ll come on by ITSELLLLLLLLF!” Good thing this Mommy has stealthy little steering wheel controls to preserve that level of faith just a little longer 🙂
As if the singing of praises to the Lord was not enough, last night in the bath, he proudly declared, “Mommy, I’m washing away ALLLL my scents!” I think he meant sins. He’ll learn soon enough that that’s not his job….but for now I suppose we can let him think a little dab of Head-to-Toe Body Wash will do the trick.
Over the past few weeks, Jeremy & I have decided to start letting Jonah go to the musical Praise & Worship time in church, due to his true longing, even PLEADING, to be a part of that. I was reluctant at first, for fear that having him there would be a distraction to our time of worship. But, today, I felt this overwhelming sense of closeness to the Father by sharing in such a crucial spiritual time with my son, even at his young age of 3. And, I found myself with a lump in my throat as I looked down to see him singing with both arms lifted high above his head in worship, himself, this morning. Perhaps mimicking his Mama, but who knows, for sure! Regardless, he is learning the act of worship with true abandon! Wow, what a blessing!
I’ll be honest, it made me wonder if maybe everyone should take their pre-school and up children to that part of church! I told my Mom, it moves me to the core to witness the ways in which God can already be making transformations in such a tiny little dude, with such a limited understanding and world view. Even in the simple midst of putting all of these songs on Jonah’s heart, I feel like God is going to be able to use that to shape his inmost being and teach my little man about His own character, as the lover and deliverer of Jonah’s soul! It’s an incredible thing to think about! And, of the absolute highest value to me, as his mother!
I also felt a strong reassurance, or true impression on my heart, this morning that God has big plans for Jonah in His Kingdom! Maybe even as a worship leader himself, someday! What a blessed day of worship and intimacy with the Father and my son.