Ephesians 5:15-20

Thoughts:          I am blessed with sweet memories of my mother’s singing as she worked.  Mostly, she sang hymns, and she knew all the verses.  Our days were filled with the joy of “There’s within my heart a melody,” the reminder that “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is calling,” and the supplication, “Spirit of God, descend you my heart.”

Her singing was dear and familiar background to our days at home.  We scarcely heard it consciously.  One summer our cousin from Los Angeles visited us.  He seemed very sophisticated and very rich; he had money to buy double-decker ice cream cones.

The first morning of his visit, he remarked, “Your mother must be very happy today.” 

I looked up from my pancakes in surprise.  “What makes you think she’s happy?”


“She’s singing!” my cousin exclaimed.


“She always sings,” my sister told him.  “Please pass the syrup.”


Discussion:        What is your favorite hymn?


Activity:              Do you know this verse?
                        “In simple trust like theirs who heard
                             Beside the Syrian sea,
                             The gracious calling of the Lord,
                             Let us, like them, without a word,
                             Rise up and follow thee.”