On first values and lifestyle of worship

Now that my baby has grown wondrously into a sweet 16-month-old toddler and responding beautifully to the tunes around him—like showing positive reactions to good songs and rejecting the tacky ones—I have trembled at the reality of pushing away my collection of death music and the growling stuff; the price I have to pay to raise, say rear, a child beginning with “first values” that would ultimately lead him to a lifestyle of worship.

During a recent retreat with the Verbum Dei Missionaries, it dawned on me that the kind of music I am listening to is very much like the book I’m reading, the movie I’m watching, the band I’m rooting for, the piece of news story I’m writing—such could either release hatred or reconciliation, hope or no hope. And if my child learns to listen to my music, read my books, view my film collection, read my stories, I could either lead him to God or nurture that resident evil in him. Finally, that question on who has gone wrong when a child goes wrong had found its answer. With simple man’s logic, the answer would point to us parents because the child came to us without the idea of evil. “Everything that comes from the Creator is good,” so it has been said.  

Because I have no better way of bonding with my child other than through music at this stage of his early childhood, my first consideration is the purpose of every song he listens to—why was it written, what is it for, does it match the target audience and the need, is it of any entertainment value, how is it going to affect the listener emotionally, even physically, and spiritually.

Dr. Mary Manz Simon, an early childhood development teacher, recommends that we use music to introduce our child at an early age to a lifestyle of worship. From one to 36 months, “Big House Kids’ Praise Baby Collection: Praises & Smiles VCD and DVD” opens our babies to worship music that provides a nurturing environment for baby’s spirit and mind.

Song listing starts with Martin Smith’s “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever (EMI, 1994)”; Paul Baloche’s “Open the Eyes of my Heart” (Integrity’s Hosanna! Music, 1997); Darlene Zschech’s “Shout to the Lord” (Hillsongs Publishing, 1993); Brandon Heath’s “God is Love” (Capilano Music, 2003); Rick Founds’ “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” (Maranatha! Praise Music, 1989); Christopher Davis’ “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” (USA Publishing/BMI, 2004) and “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Flicker USA, 2004); Dawn Rogers/Eric Lee Wyse’s “Wonderful, Merciful Savior” (Dayspring Music/Word Music, 1994); Graham Kendrick’s “Shine, Jesus, Shine” (Make Way Music, 1987); and Dennis Jernigan’s “You Are My All In All” (Shepherd’s Heart Music, 1991). Davis provides arrangements for keyboards, Andy Reiss for acoustic guitars, Ruth McGinnis for violin solos, and Sam Levin for tinwhistle. A children’s choir with two lead singers provide the angelic voices to the 30-minute video of children playing, images of infants cooing, and colorful objects, flowers and animals to introduce the concept of colors, shapes, numbers, everything around and above us.

With “Praises and Smiles,” you could sing to your baby or simply have fun while she/he is pushing and pulling up or playing with toys that she/he loves. For early language development in infants and toddlers, there is virtually no difference between core verbal language and song. Humming and other non-word specific words (as well as words to a specific rhythm or melody) are as important to the language development of an infant as the spoken word. Repetition also helps their word recognition as they hear verses over and over to simple tunes, Dr. Simon pointed out.

You can also use the soothing music of “The Praise Baby Collection” in your car, at bedtime, or anywhere you go when you want to comfort your baby. “Praises and Smiles” was produced in such a way that it can be used to reduce stress and create a positive environment where Spirit can speak to spirit.

Or you can sing along, or simply let the CD or DVD minister to your child’s soul through hearing songs with the continual message of God’s love. I got my copy from House of Praise at the E-Mall. I also saw same copy at the House of Praise in Ayala Center-Cebu. However, it disheartens me to have found out that the next two volumes are not available.  

Objectively, if your music has no love it is useless; if it doesn’t talk of love of God and for everything he has commanded you to do, it is missing the point.

So, it’s not surprising at all to find people who love to organize and or join bikini shows even when others are trying to observe a supposed solemn Holy Week; it’s not shocking anymore to find women gyrate, suggestive of sexual activity and promiscuity to the tune of cold cash, even when the others are out reflecting, fasting, praying, reconciling with God. They have no idea of the depth of the observance, of sense and sensibilities because they, in the first place, haven’t been raised well to embrace the essential.

Call this sweeping statement, but yeah there is a problem with the way they were raised. Their acts were the byproducts of how poor parental guidance could be at times. It is not poverty, even, that had driven them to do such. Their problem is their heart, for in there is the space devoid of first values. Losing touch with the lifestyle of worship has allowed them to choose and live in the non-essential. The parent could have defended for them what was, and is, and will always be important. But what could you expect from children who had grown up to become parents but weren’t nurtured the same?