Four months ago, I was the new girl in the ward. I did not really know anyone. If you know me, you know how awkward I felt trying to get to know people. Anyone, one day a guy asked if I would like to go hospital singing with them. It sounded like fun, so I went. This actually was also the first time that I rode in the back of a truck, anyway that has nothing to do with the story.
So every Sunday since (besides Fast Sundays), I have gone hospital singing. The two guys that were kind of leading it left for other endeavors, but I wanted to keep it going. So every Sunday, I would go door to door inviting everyone in my ward to come singing with us. Some weeks were better than others, but each time was amazing. I have been incredibly grateful for the opportunity that we have to go sing to brighten people's days.
Yesterday was the last Sunday of the Summer. I have been begging people to come for weeks and we got a good sized group. Afterwards, I was kind of sad because a lot of these people will no longer be in my ward in the Fall. I decided to reflect on the lessons that I have learned from Hospital Singing.
1. Music is healing- I have seen first hand how music can lift one's spirits. It would of course be healing to those whom we were singing to, but it was also healing for me. I can honestly say that my testimony has grown stronger and brighter as I have belted out the words to I Know that My Redeemer Lives.
2. You don't have to be a good singer- I know that I am not a good singer, but to these people it does not matter. I think that it is more than just us singing that lifts their spirits, it is the fact that they have someone who cares about them visiting them.
3. Positive attitudes help- For our group, we have our 'regulars' whom we sing to every week. It is so interesting to me to see their attitudes about life and how that affects everything. For example, the woman in the picture above would always request the song There is Sunshine in My Soul Today. I literally have memorized that song because of her. She is always so positive about live, even when her circumstances are not the best. I am grateful to have gotten to know her.
4. People like to talk- There was one of our regulars that really really liked to talk. We could spend half an hour or more in his room each week. He would tell us the same stories each week and would ask the same questions. I must admit that sometimes it would be annoying, but now he is gone I kind of miss it. He was so passionate about life and the church and he just wanted to share it with everyone he knew. Sometimes, it is best if we just let them talk.
5. Some people don't need to talk- There is another one of our regulars for whom it is difficult to talk. But she does not need to. Each week we go and sing to her, I can see in her eyes the strong testimony that she has. She is strong and faithful, even though I have only heard a few words come from her mouth.
After meeting all these amazing people, I want to be more like them. I want to exemplify Jesus Christ into my entire being so that anyone I come across can see Him through me.
I am so grateful that I have gotten to go Hospital Singing the last four months. It will continue!
(NOTE: If you would like to join us in singing, just let me know and I can give you the details)
Come what may and love it!
So every Sunday since (besides Fast Sundays), I have gone hospital singing. The two guys that were kind of leading it left for other endeavors, but I wanted to keep it going. So every Sunday, I would go door to door inviting everyone in my ward to come singing with us. Some weeks were better than others, but each time was amazing. I have been incredibly grateful for the opportunity that we have to go sing to brighten people's days.
Yesterday was the last Sunday of the Summer. I have been begging people to come for weeks and we got a good sized group. Afterwards, I was kind of sad because a lot of these people will no longer be in my ward in the Fall. I decided to reflect on the lessons that I have learned from Hospital Singing.
1. Music is healing- I have seen first hand how music can lift one's spirits. It would of course be healing to those whom we were singing to, but it was also healing for me. I can honestly say that my testimony has grown stronger and brighter as I have belted out the words to I Know that My Redeemer Lives.
2. You don't have to be a good singer- I know that I am not a good singer, but to these people it does not matter. I think that it is more than just us singing that lifts their spirits, it is the fact that they have someone who cares about them visiting them.
3. Positive attitudes help- For our group, we have our 'regulars' whom we sing to every week. It is so interesting to me to see their attitudes about life and how that affects everything. For example, the woman in the picture above would always request the song There is Sunshine in My Soul Today. I literally have memorized that song because of her. She is always so positive about live, even when her circumstances are not the best. I am grateful to have gotten to know her.
4. People like to talk- There was one of our regulars that really really liked to talk. We could spend half an hour or more in his room each week. He would tell us the same stories each week and would ask the same questions. I must admit that sometimes it would be annoying, but now he is gone I kind of miss it. He was so passionate about life and the church and he just wanted to share it with everyone he knew. Sometimes, it is best if we just let them talk.
5. Some people don't need to talk- There is another one of our regulars for whom it is difficult to talk. But she does not need to. Each week we go and sing to her, I can see in her eyes the strong testimony that she has. She is strong and faithful, even though I have only heard a few words come from her mouth.
After meeting all these amazing people, I want to be more like them. I want to exemplify Jesus Christ into my entire being so that anyone I come across can see Him through me.
I am so grateful that I have gotten to go Hospital Singing the last four months. It will continue!
(NOTE: If you would like to join us in singing, just let me know and I can give you the details)
Come what may and love it!
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