I woke up singing “For the First Time in Forever,” which is the prominent song for the “Anna” character in the movie Frozen. It’s absolutely no wonder, because I’ve watched the movie at least three times since the kids have been here, and Lilli continually alternates between it, and “Let it Go.”

Something new I’ve noticed, this time around, is the way Lilli sings all the time. She has sung before, of course, but I’ve really noticed that she now sings to herself while she plays, or works on a puzzle, or colors. Sometimes it’s a whole song, but most of the time it’s snippets of this and that. I love it because it’s a happy way to be. There’s a contentment in singing to oneself.

What really got me yesterday, though, is the way she teaches herself new songs. We were watching Frozen, and every time one of the characters would break into song, so would she. Boldly singing, at the top of her lungs, she would belt out the words that she knew, and then, in the same bold fashion, her own version of the words that she didn’t. She’d listen intently as she went, and with each pass through, she’d pick up a new word.

When it got to the duet of Anna and Elsa, she started singing Anna’s part, and said, “Sing with Elsa, Mimmie! SING!” Explaining that I didn’t know the words to Elsa’s song (or that I felt somewhat lacking singing along with Tony Award-winning Idina Menzel), garnered me a wide, blue-eyed stare, but no mercy at all.

So I sang.

Loud.

Occasionally on key.

Sometimes the right words; sometimes not.

And it was fun and freeing. Idina didn’t even seem to mind.

It made me think, later, about all the things in my life that beg for a bold song, but are met instead by hesitancy and feelings of inadequacy. What would it all look like if I just threw caution to the wind and belted it out? Truthfully, I think it’s the way we’re supposed to live, since all that insecurity was actually nailed to a cross a long time ago, and we were infused with the strength of the One who was nailed with it. Seriously, why wouldn’t we sing at the top of our lungs?

My little gal just walked in, wild bed head, sleepy eyes and dazzling smile.

Oh, and she’s singing “For the First Time in Forever,” at the very top of her lungs.

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Psalm 95:1-2 ESV

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 ESV