Have I mentioned that I sing in the choir at our church?
I do; I’m a choir member.
It is an experience that has blessed my life in so many ways. I love to sing, and I love to be around other people who love to sing. Singing makes me feel better, and the wonderful people I’ve gotten to know through the choir make me feel better.
There are a couple of women who amaze me every time I’m near them.
The wonderful lady I sit next to in the alto section is one of them. She is a mother to five children, but she lost one of her children a few years ago. She is a kindergarten teacher, a runner, and a wonderful mother. She is the daughter of two deaf parents, so she also does sign language flawlessly.
She also happens to have one of the most beautiful, soulful, inspirational voices I’ve ever heard. And her mother and daddy have never heard her. She may whisper to me that she has a sore throat that day or she thinks she’s having an “off” day, but as soon as I hear her, I know that her voice on its worst day is prettier than anything I’ve ever heard.
And she’s funny. She has a fantastic sense of humor and just loves to have a good time. She sings joyfully.
There’s another choir member who brings me to tears every time she sings. She is the sweetest lady, and she has been battling cancer for the last decade. She is in and out of chemo and radiation treatments, and unfortunately, new spots pop up frequently causing her to start new treatments again and again.
Her story is heart breaking, but it’s also awe-inspiring. She sings, and she sings with so much emotion and feeling. She has this angelic soprano voice, and even when she’s going through treatments she’s in the choir. She sings with a mask over her face.
You might ask, “If no one can hear her, why is she singing?” She’s singing because it’s not about her. She’s singing joyfully. She stops to ask how the boys are doing and is always so quick to laugh and offer a hug.
Her voice touches everyone who hears it, and even if you don’t know her story, just listening to her voice makes it obvious that there is a story. And it’s a great one.
I recently saw the movie trailer for a new movie called “Joyful Noise”.
It stars Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton and is a funny and inspirational story of music, hope, love and renewal.
I love a good movie about a church choir that features great music because you know that, within that church choir, there are so many stories. People sing because it makes them feel better, and it makes everyone who is listening feel better. The music is transforming and encouraging. To know that despite someone’s rough past, their bad day or their troubling story, they’re still able to get up and sing joyfully? That completely inspires me and makes me want to be more like them.
“Joyful Noise” opens in theaters on January 13th.
Until then, you can check out the movie and trailer on the official “Joyful Noise” website, their Facebook, or the Warner Bros. Pictures Twitter and see what I’m talking about. Also check out the BlogHer.com Joyful Noise page to see what other bloggers thought of the movie.
What about you, do you know a wonderful woman who has been inspirational in your life? Tell me about her and how she has changed your life for the better in the comments!
My parents attend North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga. Whenever I am in town {which isn’t often} I always end up in tears after the music portion. There is something so inspiring about being with people who are worshiping the same God and their voices. At the Christmas Eve service this past year tears were literary streaming down my face for four songs straight. It felt so powerful.
I can’t wait for the day I can have the time to join our church choir. I majored in musical theater and miss performing so, so much. What a blessing it is to sing! My Granny is for SURE my inspiration. She is the most kind, gentle, non-judging, Godly woman I know and everytime I am around her I feel SO joyful. 🙂
There’s nothing like a good church choir performance. I’ll agree with that! I hope the movie is better than it looks, which is absolutely ridiculous to me.
This really makes me miss choir. I’m out on Maternity leave now ( singing plus standing for 20 min makes me almost pass out on a good day, and with my Sunday school class before that I can’t run across the buildings with my helper being iffy at best). I love to sing, and you are so right about the people who make it up. There is something so special about people who are just in it to show their love of God.
– “If no one can hear her, why is she singing?” She’s singing because it’s not about her. –
That above sentence brought me to tears. True worship…it’s not about us.
I loved singing in the choir…nothing makes me happier than good harmony. 🙂
I want to see the movie – if for no other reason than I love to support a GOOD/CLEAN movie and it looks like it is.
Hi!! Google Kerri pennington…she is from hartsville…her little girl has had 3 heart surgeries and about 6 months ago she found out she had breast cancer….she has many amazing stories to tell in her blog… I think it is babypennington.com maybe…..let me know your thoughts!! She is such a sweet, amazing person and mom!!!!!!!!!
This brought me to tears!!
I was in church choir all through school and when we switched churches I never joined up. I miss it so much! I cry every single service, worship/praising is definitely one of the times I feel closest to God.
I hadnt seen a preview, thanks for sharing!
The lady’s in your choir sound so inspirational! What a wonderful ministry to be a part of!
I love to sing, but haven’t done so, besides in church on Sundays, in a long time. I sang in choir and a smaller group called Encore in middle school, and not until I left did I realize how much I loved it – especially our gospel concert. I went to public school in metro Detroit, so to be a part of this secular group praising Jesus was amazing and so surreal.
Your post also makes me think that maybe a joyful noise isn’t always musical. Maybe it’s the way the entirety of our lives should be lived – noisily, in the sense that it draws attention. We’re meant to be the city on the hill, a light that isn’t hidden, but instead that shines brightly. Those may be visual examples, but I think you could argue that they’re the visual equivalent of making a joyful noise.
Love this!! Made my eyes well up!!
My Mom is def someone who has been an inspiration in my life. She raised 4 girls, went through a bad divorce, is helping raise my nephew, and through all that she is still the anchor of the family! Def an amazing woman who I strive to be!
Thanks for the great writing!!!!
Oh my goodness what a beautiful story!! Thank you for sharing!! I’ve seen the trailers for “Joyful Noise” and I really hope to go see it! My mom and grandmother are truly two of the most inspirational women I know! They have taught me so much about life and have helped me become the loving mother of two girls today.
Totally random/unrelated comment but I followed your book picks from last year and loved them, read nearly every one. Would love to know your list for this year!
beautiful tearful yet joyous story of how the Glory of God comes out in all of us!!
I am a choir person and worship leader. I LOVE the way you described what singing does for you. I can’t wait to see that movie. May take some of my fellow singer type friends with me.
I used to sing all the time but then I started to get a sore throat after and thought it was too much voice strain. Your beautiful post has really made me want to get back into it and hopefully, my throat will be ok. I did find some sore throat lozenges helped me to soothe my throat after singing – anyone else used these?