This is My Song

 

This is My Song

By Demetria Gilliam-Williams

 

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might …” Ecclesiastes 9:10, NKJV

 

As I sang in worship a couple years ago, an elderly man reached up to his hearing aid and turned the knob. He was turning the volume down and tuning me out. I smiled about it then and laugh about it now. But what if I decided not to sing again in an effort to please someone other than my Creator? I would be missing worship because not everyone desires to hear me sing.

Writing as my Heart-Song

One day I heard a tune I had heard before, but this instance revealed lyrics I had missed: “Singing my heart is one of my dreams” (Heath, 2008). The words lit me up and overwhelmed my spirit. They brought me to a realization. What is in my heart is a different kind of song—writing. The lyrics clarified my long-time desire to release what’s in my heart.

It’s likely writing is your song too. So why don’t we always sing? It’s possible we are afraid of critics, skeptics, and disapproval. But here’s the reality: choosing not to write because of critics is the same as not singing praise because someone prefers not to hear.

My Duty to Worship

I’ve experienced more defeat than success. But here I am still. I just can’t get away from it—bound to my portion. Christ used the word “duty” to remind His servants of truth I’ve adopted as the writer’s claim.

 

“ … when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say,

‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

Luke 17:10, NKJV.

 

A Writer’s Short Moment to Sing

We are gifted with a duty to benefit our Creator. In writing we worship Him alone. And as writers of an appointed time, we have a short moment to sing our song. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. said it well —

 

“Many people die with their music still in them.

Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live …” (Holmes, 1965)

 

Have you ever been stuck in “getting ready?” Being stewards of God’s time means we won’t miss the chance to sing if we move beyond getting ready. May we sing to the top of our lungs and write until there is nothing left. Aren’t you glad you still have your song to sing?

 

Lord, we praise You for giving us the privilege to write Your precious words. May we see our writing as our service unto You. Give us strength and courage to sing our song. Amen.

 

 

Demetria Gilliam-Williams has an M.A. in Christian Ministry and is the founder of Blooming by Grace Ministries at www.bloomingbygraceministries.com — where grace really is what it’s all about. Demetria resides in Black Mountain, NC as an at-home mother to her son, Keebryn and a wife to husband, Keith. Her passions are adventures with family and transforming trash into treasure.

 

 

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A version of this piece has been posted on her personal blog at www.bloomingbygrace.blogspot.com.

 

References

Heath, Brandon. 2008. “Wait and See”. On What if We, 2008 CD, Provident Label

Group, LLC, a unit of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. Source accessed online via Apple Inc. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-if-we/287465894, June 29, 2018.

 

Holmes, Oliver Wendell. 1965. Source cited as Readers Digest, Vol. 87, 1965 online at

www.iperceptive.com/quote/897.html. Accessed online, June 29, 2018.