Music

Music was a big part of my life for about 20 years. I took all kinds of instruments lessons. I played in several different bands at school and was in choir. My best friends growing up were band geeks, though in a school as small as ours, many of them were also all-star athletes. I’m not sure I could tell/describe high school or college without some kind of music being involved.

As time went on I pursued other interests and music took a back burner. I would still sing or play on occasion, but nothing like before. And eventually music wasn’t something I did any more. I would listen to the radio and sing on Sundays, but that was about it.

This year a friend of mine invited me to the theater and to symphony on several occasions. As I was sitting there I realized how much I missed it. I missed performing, but I also missed attending events.

Tonight I attended another symphony event and it was amazing. I decided while sitting there that in 2020 I want to go to more events and maybe participate again in making music. It’s a love and a gift that the Lord gave me that I’ve forgotten about. It’s something I haven’t allowed myself to enjoy in far too long.

I know we are celebrating Christmas in two days and the time for end of the year reflect comes after that, but I’m starting to wonder what else I’ve forgotten? What other things have I put away that God might be calling me to take back out? It’s something for me to think about and something for you too.

I’ll leave you with another Christmas song this Sunday. It doesn’t tie in with todays blog itself, but the spirit of the Christmas season. Consider it my prayer for you this Christmas.

To Everything There Is A Season…

Kiley Ann

Give It Away....

“Give this Christmas away. If there’s love in your heart, don’t let it stay there. Give this Christmas away. And your life will be changed by the gift you receive when you give this Christmas away.”

~ Matthew West & Amy Grant Give This Christmas Away

Music is one of the clearest ways I hear God speaking to me. Often times when I stop and listen to the lyrics in a song they evoke strong emotions. I know that that is what music is intended to do, but sometimes it speaks so much truth that it catches me off guard. It makes me recenter and refocus what I’ve been thinking or doing.

In keeping with the desire for this Christmas to be focused on the who of Christmas and not the things of Christmas, I was reminded of this song. The concept of focusing not on your own needs and desires, but on others.

Christmas isn’t an easy time for everyone. Some find it to be the hardest season of all for a variety of different reasons; money, schedules, family gatherings, missing loved ones… the hope of what you long for but don’t yet have.

I’m pretty blessed in this life of mine. I have a job I love, a place to lay my head, family and friends. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that my heart longs for someone to love at Christmas. I have two options on how to view that longing. I can wallow in self-pity. Or I can give the love that I have been storing up in my heart for that man away.

A little piece for my family, another to my coworkers. A chunk to the kids, some to the stranger behind me in the drive through, and even a little to you. Little pieces, little acts done for others to share that love I’ve been storing in my heart.

Take a moment and go listen to the song. See what God is saying to you.

I think the point the song is trying to make is that by giving that love away, we don’t have any less than we started with. In fact we have more. And by giving the love we had stored away more love is out in the world. More love is out there making a difference for the kingdom and isn’t that what Christmas is suppose to be about.

So dear friends….

“ What if December looked different this year? What if we all just - give this Christmas away.”

To Everything There Is A Season…

Kiley Ann