Singing to Luca

There are few things I love more than singing. Today surprised me though. Singing with children surpasses the former Joy. I love to sing with children!

I help in the toddlers Sunday school class at my church, and each time I come away more Joyful. For an hour, I get to see the world through the innocent eyes of a child. Each cupcake tastes delicious, putting train tracks together is the ultimate thrill, and snack time can't be beat.

Today I had a first experience with a child who no matter what we tried, would not stop his sudden bursts of crying. It wasn't constant but at about one minute intervals. Each of the women helping with me tried unsuccessfully, offering toys, trying to distract him looking out the window, or silly questions, but nothing worked. Finally it was my turn.

Poor little Luca. He just couldn't settle down. I felt his pain. As his tears fell and lip quivered, I thought of the times I had felt the same. Concluding that what might help him was what helped me in those moments, I began to sing. "Come just as you, don't you hear the spirit call?" I sang all of the songs from youth choir. I sang Christmas hymns. I sang every church hymn I could think of the words to. Every now and then I'd get stuck and start singing a generic nursery rhyme, but that's when he'd cry more. With each hymn though, he would quiet, his tears would pause, and he'd lean into my arms.

Those precious 30 minutes of him, me, and God I will not forget. Finally his crying spurts stopped altogether as I finished off Away in a Manger. With a newfound security, he toddled over to the train set. All he needed was some assurance of love, and as I sang I prayed that in future moments when he felt the same, those songs would come to him again. That he would be reminded of God's unconditional love all his life, just by singing a song.