There are those people in life who sort of glide through their days and their relationships and their jobs with an ease and elegance that you don’t see all the time. They speak with respect, always putting the other person first. Their words are uplifting and encouraging, never tearing down the one receiving them. They are the people whom you desire to emulate, because they are always setting such a good example, almost dancing through life to a beautiful waltz unlike anything you’ve ever heard.

We have several of these types of people in our lives, but in particular, are Uncle Roger and Aunt Norma. They are Kevin’s relatives, but I claimed them as my own long ago. They live their faith out loud, but with great respect for those around them, their ‘new song’ always softly playing in the background. I thought of them because I read the following from a Facebook post this morning:

“In relating to outsiders, the tone of our faith is as important as the
content of what we believe. What does it sound like to them? It’s like
music. It’s not just the lyrics people want to hear. It’s the melody as
well.” ~ Pastor Quintin Stief, Valley Church, West Des Moines, Iowa

Beautiful, isn’t it?

We can appreciate the words of a person, but if there’s no music, or worse, they are a love song lyric set to a death metal score, you’ve lost your opportunity. People want authenticity. People are drawn to Roger and Norma because they know they’ll find it; they want to be with them and listen to what they have to say. Who knows? They might even be so pulled into the music that they a new song of their own and start their own little band.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to sing a new song. And I’m thankful for people like Roger and Norma who have danced ahead and shown how it’s done.

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:3 ESV

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 ESV

“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart…” Ephesians 5:19 ESV

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them…” Acts 16:25 ESV