Next time I'll sing

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

As far back as I can remember, the sound of my Mom's singing is woven into the background of my memories. I have talked about it before somewhere in earlier posts. Can you imagine how it must have been to hear her wonderful Soprano drifing through the windows as I walked up the driveway from school?

Of course, I didn't appreciate it then, not nearly as much as I do now.

Last time I was back home she started singing in the car and I really wanted to sing along. The words were right on the edge....oh, I knew them, all right.  But something stopped me and I don't even know what. Who knows, maybe someone was in the car and I was self-conscious. And ever since I got home it has bothered me that I didn't join in. She was singing an old song.......maybe you know it.

"This world is not my home, I'm just a passin through

If Heaven's not my home, then Lord what will I do?

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

and I don't feel at home in this world anymore...."

She stopped singing and asked me, "Do you know that song?" I said, "Yes, of course." Memories washed over me when she said that. We used to all get together and sing these songs and many others. Hour were spent, singing and laughing. No one cared how anyone else sounded, but really, I can remember it sounding pretty good. It sounded like joy.

I was ashamed at myself for not singing with her, for not joining in.

For not keeping the memory alive with her.

She said, "Why didn't you sing?"

Indeed. I wish I had.

I know there will come a day when I won't be able to sing with her, and it will make me sad beyond words. Sad that I didn't sing with her every chance I got. But that time is, thankfully, not yet.

It strikes me that I may be the last generation to know those songs. Kids today know many things, they know Miley, and Justin.......

and Beyonce, and JLo....but they don't know these songs about Heaven.

And it's wrong to let them die, just because it may not be "cool" to sing them.

So the next time Mom, I will join you.

I will sing.