Colored pencil drawing by Felecia R. Weber 1983, OntheWingofaDove.com

I got a song, you got a song, all God’s children got a song…

I Remember When

“I know why the caged bird sings.”  Maya Angelou

I was reminded of the old spiritual hymn “Going to Shout All Over God’s Heaven,” when it was referenced in a sermon given at my church a couple of Sunday’s ago.   As I heard the first few words of the song, “I got shoes, you got shoes, all God’s children got shoes” being sung to illustrate a point in the sermon, my mind was flooded with childhood memories of me singing that song in our church choir, oh so many years ago,  I remember clearly being so nervous singing my very first solo in front of the congregation.  I felt my voice quivering as I closed my eyes and vocalized the lyrics word by word.  It took all of the courage that I could muster to continue singing the soulful tune, but as I listened to the verses that came out of my mouth, somehow my confidence grew and a calm came over me.  As I got to the end of the song, I felt that I truly could “shout all over God’s heaven!”

Indeed, my favorite verse from that hymn is “I got a song, you got a song, all God’s children got a song…”  There is something about singing that places me into a different mindset; it stirs up a solitude within me.  To me, the smoothness of that elongated sound that seems to dance along the musical chords being played by an accompanying instrument mimics the way God guides his children harmoniously through life.  Even though there are times when tumultuous tunes clamor loudly and off key, his voice can be heard beyond the raucous…because he resides in our hearts.  That is where he composes the most beautiful music, and he creates each song uniquely for you and for me.

Yes, “all God’s children got a song,” but the best is yet to come.  Like the birds chirping their morning melodies at the dawn of each new day, those of us who put our hope and trust in God truly do have something to shout about.  For he has not only blessed us with the hope of a new day, he has also given us the promise of heaven.  When I think of heaven, and the glorious eternity that awaits me there, something wells up inside of me and it feels as though it leaps right out of my mouth.  The hope and anticipation of actually being with my Heavenly Father face to face is something that I cannot fully imagine.  It is however, the very thing that fills my heart with so much joy, so much peace, that when I get there, I am certain that “I’m going to  shout all over God’s heaven!”

Today, may you too be filled with the kind of hope that makes your heart sing…and shout!

Peace and love,

Felecia