. . . thankful #7 . . .

. . . music . . .

. . . today ~ hymns in particular . . .

background: a few weeks ago, i attended a broadcast of the general relief society meeting. i was lucky enough to have my daughter, amanda, sitting next to me. the meeting began and as i started to join in singing the opening hymn, {as i am wont to do!} tears flooded my eyes, making singing impossible. {why is that? my eyes were crying, but my voice wouldn't work. so confusing . . .} anyway, that set the precedent for the rest of the meeting and my feelings/emotions were right on the surface {mostly overflowing}. i must have been experiencing an extra dose of "tempest tossed"/"all is lost"-ness that day. it happens! after the meeting, another daughter, amelia, was wondering what in the world was wrong with mother. i told her it all started with the opening hymn. she asked what we had been singing. i couldn't even tell her the title without the floodgates reopening. amanda stepped in and answered {slightly inappropriately} for me, "it was Count Your Freakin' Blessings!"

listen here

. . . this hymn's lyrics sum up

exactly what i need to do

if i want to be happy . . .

. . . i must concentrate on how truly blessed i am . . .

. . . and when i do ~ i am surprised

by how much the lord has done for me! . . .

. . . i learn so much from music . . .

. . . it touches me in a way

that the spoken word

sometimes can't . . .

. . . i love playing hymns

on the piano or organ . . .

. . . i love singing them . . .

. . . and i love listening to them . . .

. . . my life is definitely enriched

through sacred music . . .