Singing the Wrong Words on the Back Row

Be careful. Don’t think these little children are worth nothing. I tell you that they have angels in heaven who are always with my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:10 (International Children’s Bible)

I don’t have a singing voice. In fact, I am somewhat tone deaf. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.

While that sometimes stops me from singing now, it did not stop the 5-year-old me. 

I can still see myself on the back row of the Holly Springs Baptist Church with my grandmother and mother. My grandfather (Papa) was preaching that Sunday night. 

When the time came for the invitation (or last song), I stood on the pew and belted out “Jesus Loves Me” with all the force I had. I couldn’t read the words of a hymnal yet, so I just sang a song I knew.

I’m kind of surprised that no one shushed me. I’m sure I was kind of a distraction. 

But no one did. 

As an adult, I look back on that experience and see a couple of lessons.

1. Give God what you have. I didn’t have much. I didn’t even know the right words. So I gave God what I had — the words to “Jesus Loves Me.” Maybe you don’t have much money or much time. That’s OK. Give what you have. 

2. Welcome little children (young in age and the spiritually young) into church. Encourage them when you see them acting on the truth they know. The adults that night in church could have told me to be quiet. Instead, they chose to let me sing my song to Jesus — as imperfect as it was. 

I’m thankful that I began my faith journey in a welcoming place. These days, I help teach third graders in Sunday School. We all have a role in discipling and encouraging the next generation. 

What can you do to help and encourage the younger ones in their faith journey?

Stacy Graves