R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts

"Music is the art which is most nigh to tears and memory." ~Oscar Wilde


I don’t know about you, but music was hard for me during my midlife divorce recovery journey. Music brought back all sorts of memories of my life before divorce. I had trouble listening to any music from the past. Church songs made me cry even though they were full of hope and joy. For once in my life, I could really identify with Country Western music. But one thing that helped was when I remembered songs from my childhood that somehow brought peace and comfort. Sometimes I would sing them to myself as I worked out or walked or cleaned the garage. My mom used to always sing a song to us and then to our children, and now I sing it to my grandchildren. It’s “I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck. Yes I do.” Then she would go on to name all the people who loved me. My grandchildren seemed to be soothed and comforted when I sing that song “over them …” usually while I am holding them in my arms or they are dozing in their bed as they are about to fall asleep. Having someone “rejoice over you with singing" is a great comfort. Remember, there are lots of people who love you and take delight in you, but God does that best of all. And I love the visual picture of him “rejoicing over me with singing.” Get that vision in your head and before you know it, you will be singing a new song of your own.

"Yahweh your God is with you, 
he is mighty to save.
 He will take great delight in you,
 he will quiet you with his love,
 he will rejoice over you with singing.” ~Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)