They say music is the universal language, and from what I can tell, God has programmed it into all of us. We see it in little children, when they begin bobbing up and down to elevator music, tunes on store speakers, or notes floating in from the car pulled up next to us. Some begin wiggling to songs in their high-chairs in something similar to the chair-dancing at retirement villages. Surely our loving God is responsible for all this joyful response to music.

Emerald, at 14 months, loves music. She’s learned to dip and bob, swaying to whatever tunes she hears, expertly waving her arms high in the air. She’s also a pro at chair dancing.

This week she discovered a new way to make music, the piano, and as I opened the lid, she literally baby-gasped with delight. The two of us spent a long time at the keys, me plunking out Twinkle Twinkle while she worked on harmony. Eventually she spotted the foot pedals and learned to make them thump out a little rhythm, too, beneath her pushing. Now the piano holds intense fascination for her, and she’s always up for a jam session.

Music is keenly important to nearly all of my children, and they make sure to work it into their daily lives. Those who are parents of youngsters encourage them to sing and dance, some by way of formal classes.

All of them end each day by singing songs at bedtime. Hans, here with his 3 oldest, makes sure they know how much fun it is to make music.

I believe God puts a song in our hearts for all kinds of reasons. In Scripture we see people singing after winning battles, and making music as part of their worship services. Instruments are played at celebrations, and gratitude for God’s blessings is sung out loud. People also sang at weddings, while in prison, and when they wanted to express the greatness of God.

The Bible also gives us one more way to think about music. When we’re buried in sorrow, God says we can anticipate that there will be singing in our future.

Apparently there’s never a wrong time to sing, for 3 reasons: (1) to express delight; (2) to please God; (3) to demonstrate joy in the Lord in front of others. And when we’re asked why, he is the reason for our song.

If we don’t feel confident of our abilities, though, we should remember that God can initiate songs within us in a variety of ways: through descriptive poetry, lilting prose, quiet humming, even the jaunty snapping of fingers. And because he’s the Creator of music, he can also put songs where they’ve never been before.

As for those who still feel under-confident or self-conscious? They can always dance…. even if it’s just in a chair.

“Speak… to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19)