"I will sing..."

"I will sing
of Thy mercies,
O Lord...."
- David

how did you
do it?

how did you sing
these songs...

without weeping
uncontrollably

each time
you remembered His
tender mercies

how did you
stay
a river of tears from
drowning your
voice...

your songs of thanksgiving...

I can barely
read your psalms without being
rendered
speechless...

much less
being able to
sing...

how did you
do it?

but on the other hand,
how could you
not sing,

it would
be impossible to
remain silent,
control yourself,
contain the song
in your soul...

when you have
felt His mercy,
experienced His love,
known His forgiveness...

you become
a lark in his hands...
you have been
given the opportunity to
sing His praises,
bear witness to His kindness,
celebrare redemption,
salvation,
joy....

and you
must...

it is an imperative within
you,
an eruption of
something unbidden,
unsought,
irresistible

so yes,
i might weep through each
stanza
sob out each syllable,

but I will sing,
and sing,
and sing...

eyes red with tears
face blotchy
throat tight with emotion
heart bursting with gratitude
barely able to
get the words out
over a sob...

hymnal wet with
tears...
I will sing

i will sing
of His mercy
and His love...

and with
each note...

"ransomed,
healed,
restored,
forgiven..."

I am
new...

like you

still
singing

"Praise we the Lord,
for His mercy endureth forever.
Let us extol Him with joyous and loving endeavor.
Come let us sing,
praising our God and our King.
Should we be silent?
Ah, never...."
― J. Neander