EXUBERANCE IN LIVING
My exuberance gets me in trouble sometimes. I love to shout for my grandson as he races. I often clap during worship music, and I talk to most everyone. On a trip with my grown daughter, she gave me the following instructions: “Do not talk to anyone on the elevator. Or on the street. Don’t ask so many questions. Not everyone is your friend.”
I moved during the month of March from Ohio to South Carolina. Lining the back of my new yard were azalea bushes in full bloom. Pink, white, and red, surrounded by dogwoods and camellias. Wild wisteria draped from a tree. My yard was a song of spring exuberance straight from God.
A SONG OF JOY
Psalm 98 helps to describe how I feel surrounded by God’s glory.
Sing to the Lord a new song for He has done marvelous things. (v 1a)
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music, make music to the Lord with the harp, with the hard and the sound of singing. With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King. (v. 4-6)
I see it this way, if someone can blow a ram’s horn in joy, I can clap my hands for all the Lord has done for me.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing together for joy. Let them sing before the Lord. (v. 7-9a)
Imagine it! Water rising up, each wave giving the other a high-five. Mountains singing! Will it be rocks or trees that give voice? That March, when all the blooms stood open in pride, all the tender green leaves greeted the sun, I saw nature give glory to God.
Not everyone appreciates my exuberance, but it is hard to hide. God did not put a stop-sign in front of nature, so why would He put a stop sign beside me?
I sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things for me!
YOUR TURN
Show your joy! Share the happiness God gives each of us.
Read more of Regina’s writing on her blog Christians in the World at www.reginasmeltzer.net
A passionate reader, I began writing as a young girl. After graduating from college, I became a teacher. Over the course of my career, I taught high schoolers, college undergraduates, and public school teachers how to write personal narratives, expository and persuasive essays, as well as poetry and short fiction. I continued to write: publishing professional articles, two textbooks, short stories, and poetry. In 2013, I won first place in Romantic Suspense in the ACFW Genesis Contest.
Love this, Regina. I don’t think He wants us to be silent, but sometimes our children disagree!
Normandie, I agree. But society has its own rules, and unfortunately, so do our children. Got to laugh. The ones who want me to be the quietest are the most exuberant. But I know God understands my heart.