Sing to Remember

I feel it again today. How can the student also be the teacher?

I ask the question again. "Come on, you know the answer. Just focus. Think about what you say before you say it. Okay... a nickel is worth....?"

"Seven!"

Little Girl's eyes of deep blue search my face, she knows she has spoken the wrong answer. Again. Am I upset with her? She knows the correct answer but can't seem to make it come out of her mouth.

I keep the frustration behind my face. What am I really trying to impart here? What will she remember from this time together?

Many times I have told her: Learning is good! Learning is fun!

We are not having fun here. Her face displays her desperate misery so plainly, accompanied by such a pitiful full body slump, that I can't help but smile from the drama of it all.

Okay, let's try again. A brilliant masterpiece of a song is born...

"A dime is worth ten,
A dime is worth ten,
A nickel is worth five,
A nickel is worth five..."

Instantly she perks up. Brightness fills her eyes, the bounciness of her soul spills out in grins. She sings along with authority as a half-second echo as though she's known this tune her whole life.

"...A penny is the baby and it's only worth one,
A penny is the baby and it's only worth one,
The quarter has the eagle and it's worth twenty five,
The quarter is the biggest and it's worth tweeeeeeeeeenty fiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!"

We celebrate with laughter.

She bounds off to educate the whole house with her newly found musical wisdom.

My heart sings the Lord a new song. Well worn age-old words, new song.

...Thank You, thank You...


Of course singing is fun, good for teaching, soul-healthy. You are The Singer. Children know. Why do I forget?

By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me-
a prayer to the God of my life.
~Psalm 42:8

She's back, refreshed and rosy cheeked. We hug an excited, wriggling hug.

She knows I'm proud of her for remembering. She doesn't shy away from embracing me now, she feels accepted.

She always was... how could I withhold a hug from one I love so much? But now, she feels it. That, to her, is knowing.

The teacher is the student.

I sing to remember...

Great is Thy faithfulness,
O God my Father,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand has provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me...

...I lift my eyes up,
Up to the mountains,
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from You,
Maker of heaven,
Creator of the earth...

...For You are good.
For You are good.
For You are good to me!
Lord You are good,
Lord You're so good,
Lord You are good to me...

We hug.

"The LORD 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