The Voice I Never Had

I really get into my music.

Give me a heartfelt Adele tune or an angsty Mumford & Sons number and I’ll be tapping my toes, swaying my hips, and moving my hands to the beat. At least, as much to the beat as I’m able to follow. You see, while I was given a deep musical appreciation, I was not given a musical ear.

Just ask my husband.

He’s quite the music maker and I certainly am not.

Trust me, it isn’t for want of trying.

O, I’ve spent my time singing along to the car radio and belting out hits into hairbrushes. It just hasn’t worked. You know that joke, “The Bible says to make a joyful noise, it never said the noise had to sound good!” I’ve always felt like the quip was about me. Despite my earnest yearnings to be a decent (not even stellar, just decent!) singer, I always fall short of Rolling Stone glory.

It isn’t all bleak for us musically disinclined folks, though. With age comes a bit of perception, and with perception comes a bit of maturity. No, I may not be the next American Idol, but I do have a voice. A voice that is uniquely my own. A voice that is fully equipped to sing, laugh, shout and speak.

The style isn’t so important as the substance.

James, the New Testament writer, says our tongues – our voices, we could also think – are capable of both blessing and cursing (James 3:9-10). The most melodic songbird can sound no better than a screeching crow if untamed.

No matter our vocal abilities (singing or otherwise) may we all echo the voice of the Psalmist:

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

A song of blessing is always beautiful, no matter how off tempo it may be.

How are you using your voice, your tongue? To bless or to curse? To give life or to strip life away? How has other’s use of their tongue affected you?