When my girls were little, I used to sing them made-up songs. We sang all the real ones too like “This Little Light of Mine,” “Father Abraham,” and “O Be Careful Little Eyes What You See.” Per the latter, never one to stomach a fountainhead of melodious piety, Keith comprised the added stanza, “Be Careful Little Nose What You Smell.” At times like those, I tried to retain my composure and look at him disapprovingly for righteousness’ sake but, for the life of me, I could not get through that stanza without getting so tickled my side split. It is, to this day, the stanza of the song that gets sung the most often within these slightly hallowed walls. It’s a time-honored tradition around here that rarely includes the children.
Our young family also possessed every single available cassette of “Psalty the Singing Songbook” and we played, rewound, and fast-forwarded them so profusely that the tapes got stretch marks. I could not have been more elated when Amanda found them all on CD a few years ago and promptly ordered them off the internet for her own children. There’s enough generational foolishness to go around in families like ours. Some generational merry-making and God-gladness is a refreshingly beautiful thing.
But, when they were itty, bitty things, my girls were also zealous to request the made-up variety of Moore musical wonderment. So entirely made up were these songs that, when Amanda and Melissa would ask me to sing the one from the day before, well, I’d be left at a lyrical loss. I’d cover for it by suggesting why on God’s green earth we’d want yesterday’s song when we could savor a new one today. If I’d known more Scripture back then, I would have conveniently pulled out the verse, “Sing a new song!” but, then again, it would have backfired on me when I was worn to a maternal nub and needing Psalty to lead out in some memorable – and memorizable – stanzas of the much finer sort.
Since I made them up as they went, these original songs were emancipated from the normal confines of rhythm or rhyme but what they lacked in technical composition, they made up for in personal detailing. One might go something like this:
Oh, Amanda, she is so very smart and fun. She has new shoes. We got them at the mall where we ate a Happy Meal. Amanda ran through the mall in her new shoes so fast that people thought she was in first grade. (She’d be something like 4 years old, mind you, so this kind of line was always received most enthusiastically) No one can catch her so they stand back amazed and clap, clap, clap. I said clap, clap, clap. (At this point, she herself would clap.) She has a wiener dog named Coney Island (true story, she did) and she runs behind her, flying on four short legs and huffing and puffing and wagging her tail and, oh, if she had on Amanda’s new shoes, maybe she could run just as fast. But she doesn’t. But she doesn’t. And why it is she doesn’t? Because she has four legs and would need two pair. Amanda and Coney Island, they win the race together and everyone cheers. But they are hot and sweaty and a little stinky and ask for something cold to drink. They get a rainbow popsicle for a prize and everyone is surprised when they set in to sharing it. All together now! Slurp, slurp, slurp, lick, lick, lick, the race is won. (A made-up song is all the better if the audience is roused somewhere along the way to a heartfelt Eeeeeeeeeeewwww.)
And so it would go.
I inherited the propensity for made-up songs from my mother who likely got it from hers; however, the lyrics seemed to gain more generous license with each generation. Case in point, my mother made up several songs but she tended to sing her original compositions over and over. I rarely sang the same one twice because I’d chased a rabbit so dreadfully far in the previous one that this little piggy couldn’t even wee her way home. (That would be in the vocal sense, of course.) My grandmother’s songs, on the other hand, were short and less sweet. They were more about who was going to get a switch if a batch of kids didn’t get out of the kitchen till supper and she didn’t mean maybe.
I can still picture Amanda and Melissa’s faces as I sang them these songs. Usually it was during rocking-chair time and the more I’d spin the story line through the song, the more they’d stare off into space, wide-eyed, trying to imagine every detail of the scene and suppress a grin. The scenes, after all, always starred one of their very favorite characters.
All of this is fresh on my mind because Annabeth (our recently-turned 4 year old) has started making up songs, a fact that delights me to no end. You can’t make her do it. You just have to catch her and then, ever-so-carefully without her realizing it, lend your ear near. Sometimes she’ll do it while I’m rocking her like a few weeks ago when she sang to me about “The Cross and the iPad.” She is more apt to sing free of self-consciousness if I lean my head back and close my eyes. I guess she thinks she’s singing Bibby to sleep.
Friday evening I got to bring Annabeth and Jackson home with me from work and it was just the three of us for several hours until Keith’s grand arrival from out of town with his fishing boat. These are the golden times with few distractions and minimal background noises. Times when I tend to overhear the most intriguing repartees or can engage them in conversations that run gleefully wild like little colts kicking their back legs in an open pasture. It was that night that I overheard Annabeth singing about God doing ballet. Not Jesus, mind you. God.
It was the sweetest thing ever. And surely I don’t have to tell you that, in her mind and song, He was quite adept at it. He is all-knowing, after all. He’s never required a lesson in His life.
Like most preschoolers, Annabeth’s well-protected world is appropriately small and a big part of her small world is her ballet class. It’s one of the only things in her little family that only she gets to do. She goes to preschool but brother goes to big school so there’s nothing particularly unique about that. She goes to church but so does her family. She goes to her friends’ houses but usually with her mommy. She goes out to eat but, poor thing, she never gets to take the car and go by herself. But, one day a week, she is the only one in her small world that dons a little black leotard, pale pink tights, ballet shoes, and glory-be, a tutu, and runs on tippy-toes into a world of plies and pirouettes.
Part of being a child coming into the knowledge of a great big God through parents who esteem His ever-presence is picturing that He is involved in whatever he or she is doing.
And He is indeed. That is a fact affirmed through the decades that follow and through copious Scriptural accounts. Sometimes He’s involved through fellowship. Sometimes He’s involved through empowerment and anointing. Sometimes He’s involved through conviction and chastisement. But, as long as it’s His child, He’s always involved.
For Annabeth in that lyrical moment, it was God right beside her on the dance-floor. And He was brilliant. Of course He was.
As we grow up in Him inch-by-inch, we begin the slow journey of divine reversal. We still get the ecstatic joy of picturing Him involved and invested in what we’re doing – Lo, I am with you always – but a gradual overtaking of His Spirit causes an aching and an awakening within us to do what He is doing. Instead of limiting our vision to God atwirl on our terrestrial dance floors, we begin to picture ourselves in snapshots of sudden truth raised up and seated with Him in the heavenly places. There we are by position but on loan here by commission, that His Kingdom may come and His will may be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
We are not just the calling ones, asking God to join us. We’re the called ones, asked to join Him. Right here. Right now. Right on this earth. He works, He lives, He breathes, He moves, He saves, He renews. This is no God-forsaken world.
To Zacchaeus, Jesus said, “I’m going to your house today.” But to His disciples He said, “Come. Follow Me.”
Do what I am doing. Seek to see as I am seeing. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do.” John 14:12
I come to your world so that you can follow me to Mine. One pirouette at a time.
“Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” James 5:13
Thanks for sharing Beth!! What a precious little girl Annabeth is 🙂
How precious! My daughter (also Anna Beth) goes to ballet every Thursday and looks absolutely like a precious doll.
Our song is “He’s still workin’ on me”
In case you don’t know it.. Here it goes..
He’s still workin on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient he must be…
He’s still workin’ on me!
My daughter is 12 going on 29. When she was 3 years old we use to sing about Zacchaeus. ” Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he.. he climbed up in a ______ tree. We always changed the tree then say “no!” We used palm tree often. She would laugh and laugh. The best was when I was teaching her to pray. “repeat after me Emmah.. Oh angel of God, my guardian dear..” Emmah would like to add the word “poop”. This is a hilarious word to a 3 year old. “Oh angel of God, my guardian poop, to whom God’s poop…” She would laugh til there was tears.
I miss those little moments.
Thanks for reminding me of those moments.
Shannon
My Dear Siesta Mama,
You cannot possibly begin to imagine how your post spoke to me. Today. Married to a wonderful man who adores his wife and three teenaged girls – but not a believer in the One True God, there are times I am absolutely overwhelmed with the immense influence and power of the world in the lives of my girls. In the lives of their dad and extended family. In the lives of their friends. Of those friends’ parents’ lives, the soccer team, the dance team and the university where my oldest just began attending this year. The world is SO ingratiated in ALL of these things. So, to be reminded that God is calling me, from that heavenly throne and it is not all up to me to call Him, brought tender tears of relief and joy.
Thank you. Your gifts – of the written word, of always so willing to share so many thoughts so honestly and to allow yourself to continue to be so transparent and vulnerable to all of us – minster in a significant and profound way. Continuing to point me to Him. Thank you.
Being a children’s Sunday school teacher, I just love, love, love this story. Children bring such joy to our lives. God is so good and I can just see Him twirling AB as she dances before (and with) HIM. Thanks for sharing your stories with us.
The idea of God inviting me to dance with Him…that’s too precious. I will be pondering that for some time.
Great post – and so perfect for me, since I just completed the day in the James study that includes James 5:13!
I was reminded of my then 4-year-old (now 14) daughter’s rendition of a Twila Paris song, a bit “off,” theologically, but memorable nonetheless:
“He is *exhausted*, the King is *exhausted*, on high…” sung at the top of her lungs, Sunday after Sunday.
So thankful He is NOT exhausted. Thanks for the chance to re-live that fun memory.
Beth, One word to describe all of it (the writing, the precious AnnaBeth, the family tradition, the redemptive love of Jesus): beautiful! Love you bunches, Lynda
Goodness gracious, are we related? I know we’re sister’s in Christ, but I just rocked and sang my youngest grand daughter to sleep this afternoon to a completely made up lullaby. I couldn’t repeat the lyrics if my life depended on it. I loved this post….thank you for sharing all that you share with us, Beth 🙂
As if I needed another reason to find you fabulous! So glad to know I’m not the only mom who makes up songs for/about our daily life. A few are reverent (like the Awana verses we are memorizing), but most, I’m afraid, are not. And while a few have lingered lyrically speaking, most are one-timers that get my point across: “Don’t forget your flute, my dear, as you have band today”. My littles aren’t so much anymore (10 & 12), but they still love my crazy songs. “Mom, remember that one song you did about my retainer?” Yes, yes I do.
And Psalty? Oh, the memories of school musicals! Such wonderful truths in those songs. And my mom played a floppy disk one year, I kid you not.
Thank you, Beth, for your transparency in the big things and the little things too. Love that you share these simple joys that lead to profound truths.
My Bible study group is in the middle of Stepping Up as well and I am going to take a listen to Judy’s suggested music. Thanks, Judy!
“Mom, remember that one song you did about my retainer?”
So, so funny! I love that!
Love this! I am in the song-making up stage with my own children (I inherited my tendencies from my father, though). And while I loved Psalty at the time, I loved GT and the Halo Express (who put verses to music) just as much (more?) and love that it gets me through SSMT sometimes 🙂
I could cry at your writing…you are a storyteller, she is too.
Just today in Michael’s I took a little video of our smallest three year old doing a cheer. When she sings and dances, she is completely, unabashedly singing her heart out. I have watched from the top of the stairs looking down at her “…singing for Jesus.” Such sweet reminders to me to just lose myself and get over myself and just dance, sing and praise Him.
Yes, and I loved the Psalty tapes as much as my kids did! Did you listen to the Music Machine ones also? Where in the world has the time gone…….. 🙂
I can so relate to your post! We use to listen to Psalty cassettes all the time when the kids were little! I still have a whole drawer full of them and as my first grandchild is now 15 months old, I am beginning to pull out all the great old stuff my children and I did together. I was excited to read that Psalty is now on Cd’s! I think there is enough “generational foolishness” in our family, that my daughter will be thrilled to hear that Psalty is still around, too. After all, she (and now her husband) still listens to our old Adventure in Odyssey tapes. Thank you for your colorful and encouraging posts, Beth. love you sister!
Forgot to say that I make up songs all the time but also like singing hymns and choruses with my 3 beauties. Tonight’s devotional was a brief synopsis of Peter and John and the cripple at Gate Beautiful. I remembered a song I learned many decades ago: “Silver and gold have I none. But such as I have giveth thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And then my children and I acted it out, leaping and dancing…We have been known to sing and dance a lot. We read “…in My Father’s house there are many many rooms” and I remembered an old Rich Mullins song singing the same thing. We danced and sang. It helps memorization! I work as a nurse and know that songs can be sung in perfect harmony by those with traumatic brain injuries that cannot string two words together. Music crosses over the right and left parts of the brain thereby rerouting you. No wonder we can remember the words to songs learned years ago. The Psalms were sung. I suppose that helped people like Hannah and Mary quote and know them so well. I am trying to memorize 24 this year with siesta and struggling. Yet, I am inspired as I write.
laughing!! and what tender memories!! would love to have you write our songs on the fly too. Gonna have to get my creative juices going and sing to my babies tomorrow a “new song”!! 😀
This was so beautiful that words fail me! I recently came across a photo of our three kids (now grown) with a Disney character…and I wondered just how the time passed so quickly and whether they still remember those song lyrics we used to sing…. I was taught that “be careful little eyes” song but had long forgotten it, so thank you for the sweet reminder. I thank God for blessing you with the ability to write so beautifully.
This is just so beautiful.
I needed to read this. God knew that.
Coming from a sometimes hard childhood these memories you talk about are just a few of my good ones also. Ballet and singing. God has always loved us, what a beautiful love story.
Thank you sister.
Oh oh oh! “Part of being a child coming into the knowledge of a great big God through parents who esteem His ever-presence is picturing that He is involved in whatever he or she is doing.” One of the most precious reminders. Ever. Thank you!
AMEN!
Thank you for sharing your story.
I have been so blessed by God to raise (still raising) up three girls.
Tu Tus to mud puddles and singing all the time!
Blessings,
Roxanne
I too made up songs about everything when my kids were younger. I teach blind children, and now that my kids are older, they too are my audience for my made up songs. They giggle with delight as I sing about their cane, or Braille. Thanks for sharing this story. I know the Lord teaches me so much through my kids and students. I am a better person each day for all of them.
beautiful, beth. what an encouragement today!
psalty is dear to my heart b/c it was during a psalty video that my firstborn (along w/ ralph & rhonda) asked Jesus into her heart. and let’s be honest – who doesn’t need some charity churchmouse? 🙂 thanks for these sweet reminders!
Jackson and Annabeth and I sing with Charity Churchmouse all the time! The one where she dreams that she signed a “con-trap” is in my car. Laughing. What sweet times.
I cannot believe that sweet cherub is four years old. She is adorable!
🙂 How sweet this blog is!!! It is a reflection of your love for her and Gods love for you both. I’m a mother and a grandmother and I have failed on so many levels but your blog has offered light , encouragement and hope. Please pray for my family.
Thank you for all you do. Well I’m off now to sing made up songs to my grandchildren:)
Hi, Beth and everybody! I used to lie on the floor on my back and bend my knees and “fly” my babies on my shins, back and forth and sing, “She flies through the air with the greatest of ease; it’s baby Jacqueline (later Julia) on her trapeze. She’s cute and she’s sweet, she’s pretty and smart–Jackie (Juli), I love you with all of my heart!” I really loved doing it until I got a little carried away and somersaulted the younger one over my head. (She was okay, I was still holding her hands.)
I sing to the cats, too. Each one has his own theme song.
We loved Psalty, too. and Veggie Tales!
“I come to your world so that you can follow me to Mine. One pirouette at a time.” I love that line! Not because I ever in my life have pirouetted, but it’s a beautiful picture, Him coming into our world to lead us to His.
And I love to sing – made up songs, or the one line of whatever song is stuck in my head at the moment. Which is awesome for my family members. My 15 year old was just explaining to our 6 year old last night, that no matter how much you scream or beg, Mommy will NEVER stop singing. She can’t stop 🙂 The line I kept singing last night was, “Baby, baby, baby, Ooooooh, like, baby, baby, baby” from Justin Beiber. I don’t even like, and we don’t listen to, Justin Beiber. It literally came from nowhere. I’m not a good singer, it’s just fun. For me. And them, when it’s about them.
Aahhh….pure little hearts filling with God’s word. What a delight!
I too, make up songs with my girls -they each have one we have sung to them since infancy. We are always making up silly lyrics to familiar tunes, but the best was when my 4yr old (now 9) sang her song at the top of her lungs about how “Jesus Won’t Wear Dirty Socks!” LOL We went around the house for weeks talking about dirty socks. We still refer to it and I so wish I could have gotten it on video. Precious memories and I know they make the Lord giggle. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this post – it made me reminiscent and misty. 🙂
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!!
Beth…I screech with joy! When I see a new post from you!….thank you always!….for your love and blessings into my life! My only son is now 20 and away at college, and I have the sweetest memories of waking him every morning with the song…..Rise and shine and give God your glory, glory…. Xo
Hi Beth – Oh, that walk down memory lane was wonderful. I, too, sang silly made-up songs with my children and loved it and so did they. Thanks for sharing your sweet family with us. Annabeth is beautiful – I wonder what she thinks as she looks at herself in the mirror doing ballet…a child’s mind is a wonderful thing.
The joy of knowing that the next generation is teaching their children about our LORD and having a deep relationship with Him is indescribable, isn’t it.
Have a wonderful day!
Oh how I love this post, Beth! A part of me still feels like that little girl prancing around in her pink tutu, loving the splendor of its poofiness!
Oh, thank you for this beautiful post. One of my greatest pleasures when my children were small was rocking and singing with or to them. Or even better was swinging and singing. Nothing like the porch swing to loosen the tongue. Now I am delighted when my granddaughter lets loose with one of her made up longgggggggggggggg songs! She’s so funny and expects to have the rapt attention of her audience. Thank you for bringing this to mind.
Oh Mrs Beth, what a wonderful post this was especially to me
because my
I so enjoyed reading this! As a mom and as an aunt, I made up so many fun songs over the years for my children and my neices and nephews. Now I am a Grandmother. I am “Grandma”, and those songs are in my heart forever, they are in the hearts and minds of my now very grown adult children, neices and nephews. But, best of all.. these songs are creating a joyful, happy, and Godly melody between the generations of our family. From songs about brushing out snarly morning hair for school, to the Light of Jesus lighting our way when the dark is too scary.. they bind us. All our hearts and memories sing and hummm along and the chorus is beyond beautiful to all of us, and I am certain is very pleasing to God. Thank you for giving me this wonderful message.. that gave me prayerful and joyful reflection about our “made-up songs”!
Oh Mrs Beth, what a wonderful post this was especially to me
because my own wonderful mother did the same thing for my sister and I.
She would make up songs all the time. Some she remembered if they were lullabys, and others
got forgotten in time, made only for that one day we were her little girls at home. I have made up a few songs for my own children. Sometimes my eldest and I make up ones to help her study. But I can never match my Mom’s gift for it. Thank you for reminding me of those specials times.
PS
We had all the Psaltys too. My favorite was the camp out one with the little Scotch firefly singing about how you give the glory all to God!
Today’s blog brought back happy memories of my childhood. How I miss my father, but remain in thanksgiving that I will see him again.
Mel Ann Sullivan – Millry, AL If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue he deceived and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this – to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:26-27 NIV
THIS. This. This is life changing.
“but a gradual overtaking of His Spirit causes an aching and an awakening within us to do what He is doing. Instead of limiting our vision to God atwirl on our terrestrial dance floors, we begin to picture ourselves in snapshots of sudden truth raised up and seated with Him in the heavenly places. There we are by position but on loan here by commission, that His Kingdom may come and His will may be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
We are not just the calling ones, asking God to join us. We’re the called ones, asked to join Him. Right here. Right now. Right on this earth. He works, He lives, He breathes, He moves, He saves, He renews. This is no God-forsaken world.”
Oh thank you for this! Glory to God in the highest for made up songs especially the ones singing praises to Him!!
Beautiful.
Oh Beth. Thank you so much for a wonderful story & lesson. Aren’t grandchildren just…GRAND~! I thank God every single day for both of mine. You’re so blessed to have yours nearby that you can ‘bring Annabeth and Jackson home with me after work’. Mine are both in New Mexico (5 yr old girl and 3 yr old boy). But God is ever-present everywhere! Glory!
Once again you have graciously invited us into a little piece of your life with your brilliant word pictures. I love your blog so!!
Oh Beth, I felt a pang of hurt in my soul as I read about your girls and then little Annabeth (love her name) because I’m just an Auntie to my nieces; I never married. But when they were just 2 and 3 years old my job moved me away and I missed their growing up years. Now they are married and have little ones of their own. I don’t see them as often as I’d like. I’m sad at times because I think of all the things I’ve missed. Treasure the times, they go by faster than you think. But I’m thankful they are growing up in Christian homes and we do see each other during the holidays. The Lord is good!!! 🙂
How God must delight in His sweet little ones singing to Him in their innocence. My great nephew Joshua was singing a “made up” song one day about Jesus loving us so much that he died on the cross for us, all from his precious little heart and head. God surely loves to hear these precious songs of praise.
Hi Beth!
I STILL make up songs most everyday & I’m 55 🙂
I taught Kindergarten for many years and I think that has something to do w/ it. I regularly ask God in the morning to give me a song to sing. Sometimes HE gives me melodies to hum & may also supply the lyrics!! Sometimes they’re songs from movies and boy do they stick in my brain bigtime! I can’t carry a tune worth a buck, but I do love to hum and sing.
Good job Annabeth! May your songs only increase in number little girl!
Thanks for sharing such silly fun. I loved singing with our kids too. If you get a minute check on itunes for song called ‘The Hampster Dance Song” by Hampton the Hampster. Its not really singing but makes a great song to dance in the kitchen in your socks!! Makes you fall down laughing! (especially if you do a few leg kicks on the ‘whooo’ and happen to fall down!)
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I have longed for a granddaughter to take to ballet and for manicures. I am living vicariously through your stories and pictures of that darling Annabeth!
My daughter (4) makes up songs all the time – it really is delightful 🙂 The “paper towel” song is the one that seems to have stuck – she needs help to reach the toilet paper in our bathroom! To be humble enough to be silly is such a gift .
I have come to remember the joy of make up lately. I tell my daughter bible stories that she loves. And I doubt I could tell it just the same way twice. I even have thought to record the stories as they are funny and we laugh! and I usually learn somthing I didnt previously think of consciously knowing. I also used to sing songs. Long songs. Love songs. Story songs. Stories that didnt end and just continued down whatever winding path my heart took that night.
And somthing happened. I got sick. The kind of sick that threatens your life. And I did life and illness all alone. And it was hellishly hard. And For just a moment I lost the beauty of the telling and singing love. But God has found a little way to re inspire. And this blog encouraged me.
Now it seems to me I would do well to know more bible. ANd even said so to my little one.
Bless you Ms Beth
Beth,
I am thinking tonight of your sister, Gay. She blessed me so much last year with her posts and I miss her so much!
I hope to see posts from Gay again in the future–she was real and that is scarce in todays worlds. She laid herself open before us. She blessed me and I want her to know I love her for who she is right now! In my eyes, she has no expectations to fulfill; she is loved for who she is! Please pass this message on to her.
Nancy