SINGING FOR JESUS

Whew! This has been a long week of performances, almost every day. Though I loved watching my kids and grandkids perform in their various recitals and shows, what I loved best was singing for Jesus.

Last Sunday night I sang in the Vancouver East Stake choir at our Christmas Devotional. It was a lovely program, culminating in our rousing (though somewhat less than technically stellar)"Hallelujah Chorus" by Handel. We had an ice storm that day, so severe that church was cancelled, so it was especially nice to be able to gather together that evening to celebrate our Savior's birth.

On Saturday, the Portland Mormon Choir and Orchestra put on two shows. It was a 14-hour day for all of us involved, but I always experience such joy singing in such a great choir. There's nothing that stirs my soul so much as belting out "O come let us adore him" with the French horns blasting in my face (I stand right behind them), the stage lights in my eyes, like the bright star of Bethlehem, my fellow singers surrounding me in waves of praise, my awareness of the audience sharing our joy.

And this morning, I stood at the pulpit in our own chapel with my husband, daughter, and son and sang "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", inviting the Lord to come to us. Grace accompanied us beautifully on the violin, with our friend, Lana, on the organ. We are not great singers, really, but one of our deepest family pleasures is making music together. And the best music of all is when I'm singing for Jesus.