The sound of music usually filled our childhood home on most days. Classical, Christian, the oldies, and even polka provided the background noise. My mother often surprised us with her knowledge of various musicians like Johnny Cash, her brother’s favorite, Elvis Presley, and also the classic musicians like Bach and Beethoven.
Attending outdoor summer concerts, enrolling me in piano lessons, and encouraging me to play the piano at home are some examples of how my mother valued music and its role in our lives.
Bringing her CD player to Freedom Village, her current rehab facility, has been one of the best ways to keep her mind off the pain. Playing a Strauss CD opened up a whole conversation, remarkable since silence can be more typical. “Who is your favorite composer, Mom?” Why did you like Strauss more than Bach?” This higher level type of questioning ellicited a surprising response. “Bach’s music is more refined”. Hearing her use the word refined startled me since her recent dialogue has mostly focused on cleaning windows and getting the pizza out of the oven. “And what about Beethoven, Mom?” I read her some statistics about his life and she nodded.
When I became a mother, I followed my mother’s example of playing music in the home and vehicles. One musical moment is forever etched in my memory. When Chloe, our oldest, needed a calm environment, I repeatedly played a Celtic Psalm CD. The rhythmic cadences lulled her to sleep many times. Years later, I played the same song causing her to comment, ” How do I know that song?”
My first item on my Michigan bucket list, attending “Worship on the Waterfront” in Grand Haven, is completed. Last Sunday, Cheryl, Corey, and I sat in the outside stadium, listening to the sounds of “Building 429”. I can’t keep the lyrics of their newest song, “Fear No More” out of my head. Here is the chorus:
This isn’t what I’d choose
But it’s where I’m finding you
When I’m broken and undone
Your mercy’s just begun
You overcome my doubt
Your hands are reaching out
You hold me through the storm
And I will fear no more
The power of music– a therapy, a conversation starter, a blessing.
A Journey Worth Remembering 