Source: Blend Images – Hill Street Studios / Getty
How many of you grew up in the church? You may ask, “What’s growing up in the church?” Well, the only way that I can describe it is from my own experience. Between the ages of birth to 17 or 18, you had to go to church if your parents or the relative raising you went. Nothing else said, no matter what, you had to go, during the week and on weekends (smile)! One thing that I will never forget about my “growing up in the church” early years was the music and the singing. In the 60’s, I remember the times of “song service”. This was a part of my upbringing and I believe played a large role, influence, and inspiration in my life. Whenever I reflect back on those years, this is what comes to me. There was Sister Hollie, the church pianist who would play and sing. There were others also.
One of my other memories is that of the “Mothers” in the church, the older women. There was Mother Smith, and there was one who would break out with a song almost every Sunday! I remember her sitting on the left side of the church in the second or third row. Her name was Mother Jones and she would sing “Shine on me, shine on me, let the light from the lighthouse now shine on me!” I will never forget her singing that song. In the 70’s we started having what churches all over now call “praise & worship.” This was in place of “song service”. Being a young girl and teen that was able to witness the transition of “song service” to “praise & worship” in the church where I grew up, is where and when I first got the desire to one-day become a Worship Leader!
If your childhood, teenage, or even your early adult years were spent mostly in the church, sometimes it’s good to take a look back and remember those days. Are there memories of something or someone that was an influence in your life, which you’ll never forget about? Reflect on it or them today!
Scripture of the Day: “Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.” – Proverbs 22:6
article courtesy of TheStreamingFaith.com
