The Language Of Music

The Language of Music

Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:19 (NCV)

Music is an amazing language all its own. It is universal. While spoken dialects and languages are confusing to communication around the world, music is a unifying force we all understand.

As a singer myself, I have experienced the “magic” and power of music and how it affects people in a variety of situations and countries. I love all kinds of music, especially a cappella (without instruments) and standard jazz.

When I lived in Kansas in the 1980s, a group from our church often went to the local nursing homes to sing for the folks who lived there. They loved to see us, and they loved to sing along with us. We mostly sang Christian songs and hymns the older people had known all their lives, and that brought back fond memories for them.

In one of the homes was an older woman named Polly who had suffered a major stroke, which left her unable to speak. She could say two words: yes and no. Her mind was just as sharp as ever, and she loved to try to converse with us. She just could not use words.

When it came time for the singing, though, Polly really came to life. For some unknown reason, even though she could not say words in regular conversation, she could sing every word of every song. And she did so with great delight, laughing and clapping her hands after each song. The longer we sang, the happier Polly was, because it was her only way of speaking.

Polly truly carried out the Lord’s request that we speak to each other in song. And she did it with great joy, moving me to tears.

Dear Lord, thank you for creating music and for allowing its power to lift our spirits and touch our hearts. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to praise your name in song. Amen.