Recently I reclaimed my old habit of music.
Not piano playing – Hunter hides and giving me dirty looks when I play (He doesn’t do that to Jenna!). And I don’t have the stamina to sit or the brain-width to concentrate.
Not singing, either. That takes energy, too. Unless, of course, I’m singing along to the radio or a CD. That comes automatically, if not tunefully.
The music I’m enjoying is music delivered by CD or iPod. Just press a button or two and music fills the room.
[Okay, I’m back. The Hallelujah Chorus came on and I had to get up and sing.
By the way, did you know that “Hallelujah” is Hebrew for God be Praised?]
But I will give my thanks to you, Yahweh, for you make everything right in the end.
I will sing my highest praise to the God of the Highest Place! Psalm 7:17 The Passion Translation
Music has great benefits. It has been discovered to:
*Improve blood-flow.
*Relieve depression.
*Help manage and ease pain.
*Increase endurance.
*Relax anxiety and stimulate memory.
*Increase levels of serotonin (mood stabilizing) and endorphin (pain killing) while decreasing stress hormones.
*Decrease fatigue.
(Did you notice that many of music’s benefits are much the same as the benefits of gratitude? Interesting, yes?)
Music is a fair and glorious gift from God.
Martin Luther
Let me praise the name of God with a song that I may magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30 International Standard Version
Music doesn’t ask anything of me but to listen.
And I’m so good at that, I can do it with my eyes closed.