[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 26/Nov/2023]
Most small children love doing action songs, but as a 10-year-old I decided they were beneath my dignity and would flatly refuse to sing them at Sunday school. Nine years later, at university, I quite happily sang songs like “If I were a butterfly” at the Christian Union meetings, as my enthusiasm in my new found faith overcame my pride. One great advantage of getting older is that we are far less worried about our dignity or what others think of us. Now as a pensioner I am glad I still have the physical ability to jump or to reach up high (although the latter can be painful with my frozen shoulder).
Even now, there are a few worship songs which make me cringe, not because of the actions but due to silly words, dire tunes or bad grammar. (At a previous church, I refused to sing that I wanted to lay in God’s arms, as I am not a hen.) It is important to remember that some people (especially older children, teenagers and men) can find silly songs so embarrassing that they are put off church altogether. On the other hand, there are children’s songs which really speak to me as an adult.
The song, “Father God I wonder” reminds us that God has adopted us as sons and daughters. Unfortunately putting the word “daughter” instead of “son” doesn’t scan, so I have to sing “child” instead, which embraces all the genders. I have often quoted from “Nothing’s too big, big, big for his power, nothing’s too teeny weeny for his care” in our prayer times on Connect in Faith. It reminds us that even the seemingly overwhelming problems like war and climate change are not too big for God and our minor worries are not too trivial for his care.
The song, “I reach up high” contains the words “I jump and dance with all my might. I might look funny but that’s alright. I’ve got to (woo, woo) praise the Lord”. These words remind me of King David, who jumped and danced with all his might before the Lord. His wife was disgusted with him and said he was exposing himself to ridicule, but all he cared about was pleasing the God he loved. (2 Samuel 6). If the great warrior King David was not too proud and dignified to praise God without restraint, then perhaps we can do the same.
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Last week’s reflection: Don’t Get Distracted, Follow Jesus ‘til the End! by Dazz Jones
Contributed by Helen Ruffhead; © Helen Ruffhead