Today I got to sing with a group of seniors. Many of these friends of mine grapple with dementia, failing bodies which are bound to wheel chairs, and often the inability to communicate in clear straight lines of thought.
Today’s singing was amazing.
It was amazing not because of our wonderful voices – we were actually singing along to some Youtube hymns.
What is amazing is how my friends are touched by the music.
Even the ones who seem unreachable in their wheelchairs can often be seen moving their fingers or head slightly to the music, some even mouthing the words as we sing.
But I can see more than people enjoying music.
“Thank you for bringing this calming music for us today. It just feels so nice.”
A care aid said that to me during our singing, specifically after we sang, “What a friend we have in Jesus.”
There is a difference between singing a song, and singing to God. Both can sound nice, but one can open our heart and soul to something else.
As we sang today I felt what that care aid was talking about. Peace and calm.
God’s presence.
Something more than the nice feeling you get from hearing or singing a favorite song. I’ve felt those feelings too. This is different.
As we neared the end of our singing together, I asked if any resident had a favorite hymn they’d like to sing. Funny enough, What a Friend We Have In Jesus was requested. We sang it again.
The very last song requested was, “Silent Night.”
The first thought that jumped into my head was, “We can’t sing that, it’s a Christmas song. It’s Spring.”
I’m glad I ignored myself and played the song anyway. The singing was beautiful and heartfelt. And as the Youtube video we were singing with came to quiet end, a wheel chair bound resident who can hardly talk didn’t seem to hear the end of the song, because she kept singing, completely lost in the song: “….all is calm….all is bright.”
That’s beautiful!!
Hi Melaney – it was beautiful! Stayed with me all day. I can still hear her singing in my mind. 🙂
Awwwwee that’s sooooo nice!! I’m happy for you!!
Hi Aaron. What beautiful work you do! I often wish the assisted living home where my dad, mom and step-dad all live had a chaplain, especially in these isolated days. Music calms and brightens, perhaps allows a bit of escape, and I think it takes seniors back to other times, echoes of their former lives! Thanks for doing what you do. I can tell you make a beautiful difference for these seniors!
Hello Elaine,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I do, on most days, absolutely love my work. There are days where I have to admit I feel like…’What in the world am I doing here…’ but thankfully, those days are not many.
Indeed, these are trying times for all of us…it is exciting though to see how God is at work. I am so thankful that He is never restricted by social distancing or quarantines.
I love the power of music! It does amazing things in our brains – even ones that are damaged by the advance of dementia – it somehow can create a bridge between the damaged spots and the healthy spots – and for a few minutes, a few seconds, they can remember. They can sing. They can move a finger or a hand in time with songs they love. It’s beautiful to be a part of it…and even more so when it is helping someone connect with God in a deeper or meaningful way.
Thank you for stopping by! Come again! 🙂