Music Moments
“Without music, life would be a blank to me.”
Rarely have I had the opportunity to pause in my day and fully contemplate how important music is in my life. It goes without saying that if I did not count its presence as a vital necessity, I should not be teaching voice lessons! On the contrary, I agree so strongly with this quote above from Jane Austen’s beloved book, “Emma.” My life as a productive human being, I dare say, would be a blank.
Last weekend my husband, youngest daughter, Victoria, and I traveled to Dallas to support and wholeheartedly enjoy Taylor Swift onstage for her “Eras Tour.” To say the music and production moved me would be an understatement. I am in awe of the entire body of music this “girl-boss” has written over her career — so far! If you are fortunate to attend one of these concerts, you will remember it for a long time.
Our second daughter, Eliotte Nicole Woodford, is one of the amazing background vocalists in Taylor’s band, and this band is the best! Each member can shine in their individual and collective gifts, performing on a stage for more than three hours and then greet you afterwards, making you feel important and seen — I mean really seen — with conversations about real life … with us “normal” people. The band and dancers are some of my favorite people on the planet. I do not claim to know them well, but the interactions I have had with them over ten years have enriched my life with joy and engendered a great sense of respect for who they are on and off the stage.
Music. Musicians. Music Moments.
These moments touch me. They move me. They enrich my life just as the songs I link to in each weekly blog post are meant to enrich yours. My husband and I strive to present song selections for you at the end of each blog post with words relevant to what we have written, hoping they will sink into your heart and soul. Some of the songs are fun. Some of the songs are directly targeted at specific readers, perhaps a caregiver or a mom. But most songs we attach are raw, real-life, tear-jerking songs containing lyrics that encourage, comfort, or challenge the listener. We always include the lyrics because, sometimes, just reading a song’s lyrics can change your thoughts concerning your journey that day.
So rather than expounding on how great music is in the world because you probably already know that, I suggest you dash over to our Spotify In Our Arms Blog Playlist 2023, and soak in a few of the songs. You can also visit InOurArms.blog to read the blog posts that contain the suggested songs.
We need music to help make sense of life sometimes. Sometimes, you need to sit in an audience with 80,000 fans and soak in the pure genius of an artist, or you may need to sit quietly today and just be held. Although we shared this song in December 2021, I dedicate it today to those of you who have suffered the loss of a child recently.
No matter how or where you enjoy your music, I hope you will come along with me as I invite you to share our music moments at InOurArms.blog.
I’m a fan!
Listening Library: “Held” (Natalie Grant)
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.”
(Psalm 18:16 NIV)
Held
Two months is too little They let him go They had no sudden healing To think that providence would Take a child from his mother while she prays Is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued? What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares? We're asking why this happens to us who have died to live It's unfair
This is what it means to be held How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life And you survive This is what it is to be loved And to know that the promise was When everything fell, we'd be held
This hand is bitterness We wanna taste it, let the hatred numb our sorrow The wise hand opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow
This is what it means to be held How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life And you survive This is what it is to be loved And to know that the promise was When everything fell, we'd be held
If hope is born of suffering If this is only the beginning Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?
This is what it means to be held How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life And you survive This is what it is to be loved And to know that the promise was When everything fell, we'd be held Yeah, ooh be held, oh
This is what it is to be loved And to know that the promise was When everything fell, we'd be held
This is what it means to be held
Songwriters: Christa Nichole Wells
Held lyrics © Weimarhymes Publishing, Inc.
