Not too long ago, I received a video from a friend about a retired ballerina at a very advanced age with dementia. A journalist came to visit her and played swan lake for her. Even though she was wheelchair bound, she played the dance with her hands with music rhythms. She could dance with her hands as she recalled the scenes she performed at her prime time. Music was really amazing and the music associated with her brain made her alive.
More research is underway on a music-memory link. Yet, as the Bible reveals, the joy that comes from singing is a gift from God—and it’s real. “Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” (Psalm 147:1). Throughout the Scriptures, in fact, God’s people are urged to lift their voices in songs of praise to Him. “Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.” (Isaiah 12:5). “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” (Psalm 40:3)
Our singing inspires us but also those who hear it. May we all remember: our God is great and worthy of praise. May we sing praises to You, God. Thank You for so often unlocking the minds of those with memory problems through the beauty and power of song.
_____________________________________________________________________