sing – Grits with Grace

Family, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, thankful

Seize the Day

Posted on August 23, 2022August 21, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.” Psalm 59:16

After a long silence…they are singing. I stepped out into my backyard to finish my last cup of coffee…well, at least for a couple hours. When I opened the door, my backyard, and apparently the back yards, and front yard, and side yards of my neighbors were all filled with the sound of cicadas singing their song. What is a cicada? Well, it an insect, and quite honestly, an ugly insect that emerges late summer. And if I’ve got it right…different kinds emerge at different times and even years.

So, when Facebook only existed at Harvard University and when the sitcom “Friends” aired its last episode, a newly hatched brood of cicada nymphs (babies) fell from the trees and burrowed into the dirt. They stayed there snacking on the sap of rootlets and slowly growing…until the time is right. The cicadas that were singing this morning, again if I am correct, aren’t the ones who have been preparing for these days for 17 years—most of these are in the dirt for a much shorter time…only a year or two.

You’ve probably heard the song of the cicadas. It can be loud, and it can be annoying, unless of course you are a cicada. You see, they are not just singing, they are singing a love song. They are letting everyone know that they are up, they are out, and they are ready to prepare for the future. They have just a few days to sing their love song, find someone to love, start a family and, uh, die. That is one reason they are singing with such gusto. They don’t worry about annoying their neighbors…they are just looking for love.

In a few days, our yards will be a lot quieter. The party will be over, their love song will be silenced and buried in the ground will be thousands and maybe millions of nymphs waiting for their time to sing. The beautiful thing about us is that we don’t have to wait 13 years, or 17 years or even one year to sing. We have the opportunity to sing every day, and it is an opportunity we should embrace. There is a Latin saying that says “Carpe diem.” Now don’t confuse that with the surgery you have when your wrist hurts. That is carpal tunnel and has nothing to do with singing…unless it is the blues.

No, Carpe diem means that we are to seize the day…to make the most of every day. It means that we are to sing our love song clearly and loudly. “Love song?” You ask. Sure. If we look around, we have so much to sing about. Breathing makes the list…so does seeing, hearing, and walking. If you don’t think those things are worth singing about about…ask someone who can’t. Oh, and then there are people…people like family, like friends, like the guy who rides on the back of the trash truck and once a week hauls your garbage off. Ever thank him? Ever include him in your love song, your life song? If not, why not? You see the more we are grateful, the more we realize how much we have to sing about.

I know for me when I walk out in the morning and see the sun rising and the moon fading, my mind immediately goes to Creator God, my Dearest Daddy, who thought us worthy of another day. Oh sure, it’s not gonna be perfect, in fact, it might be difficult, but it is and should be something worth singing about. A song writer in the Bible put it this way, “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.” Well, put Mister Songwriter, well put.

So, tomorrow, step out and see who is singing in your world…and join them. Dare to believe that you have a reason to sing…even if your world is less than you wished for. Stop, pause, and listen, and believe. There is Someone who loves you dearly, who wants to walk with you, who believes in you and that is something no circumstances can steal away. So, sing and believe “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

“Yes, Sir”

Posted on April 5, 2022April 4, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27

Bummer. I knew I should have listened. I have always liked music and I have always loved to sing. From the time my mother forced my oldest sister to allow me to sing at her wedding…I’ve been hooked. Not only do I like music I generally like all kinds of music. To me music is the melody of life. It often expresses emotions and feelings that otherwise might go unexpressed. So, I sing…loud and all the time.

You know, some people say, “I saw you at the store the other day.” Not me. People will say, “I heard you at the store the other day.” Regardless of where I am there is usually a song somewhere close by. And the funny part is you never know what you will get. It might be “Amazing Grace” or Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” That’s not an issue except for the fact I work at a church. It can be kinda strange.

I also have a hard time getting the words right. I know some of the words to hundreds of songs but unfortunately know all the words to very few. People used to correct me when I would get the words wrong. Most finally gave up. Now they just smile. I should have listened a long time ago when someone would try and correct me. Especially since that time in basic training.

Basic training in the Air Force is that time when they teach you how to be an airman. That includes knowledge and action. Clearly it involves learning to follow orders. I was raised in the South so saying, “Yes, sir” or “Yes, ma’am” came really easy for me. I was even a pretty compliant person. But one day, well, I just missed it.

For some reason I was in the barracks by myself, and I was letting it go. It was an old hymn, maybe “Amazing Grace.” From somewhere a voice boomed, “Shut-up.” Well, I thought it was one of the guys jerking my chain, so I kept right on singing at the top of my lungs. From somewhere the booming voice boomed again, “I said shut-up.” It was just about then that I vaguely remembered hearing that voice before. “Oh, that’s right,” I said, “that’s the voice of my drill instructor, Sergeant Catchings.” Oops. Game, set, match.

So here he comes from somewhere and he is madder than a hornet. “Taylor,” he said, “didn’t I tell you to shut up?” he boomed in his drill sergeant voice. I knew there was no use trying to explain that I didn’t know it was him, so I just muttered a weak, “Yes, sir.” Then he walks over to the mop closet, opens the door and invites me to step inside. Gulp. I step inside and as he shuts the door he said just one word, “Sing!”

So, with all its odors and in the dark, I start belting out “Amazing Grace.” After a few verses, he opens the door and says, “Do you know, “Rock of Ages?” “Yes, sir” I said. Once again came the one-word command, “Sing.” The door closes, and I sing. After a few verses, the door opens and he said, “Do you know…” and he named another hymn now long forgotten. “Yes sir” I said. You know what he said, “Sing.” Well, after a few verses the door opens and he says, “Get out.” I wasn’t sure if he meant out of the closet or out of the Air Force and I didn’t stick around to find out. I got out.

Well, I learned something that day. It is important that I learn to recognize and obey the voices around me…especially those that might be in charge. I never missed the voice of Sergeant Catchings again. When I heard that booming voice…I listened. No more mop closets for me. I learned that day to listen for my drill instructor and even more importantly, I’m learning to listen for God.

I’m sure Sergeant Catchings had my best interest in mind. He was there to teach me discipline and he did. Looking back, I’m sure he thought it was all pretty humorous. So do I…now. But that day, well, I just wish I had listened a little closer. These days, I’m learning to listen for the whisperer whispering, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” And I believe He does. Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Nature’s Love Song

Posted on August 30, 2021August 29, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

But as for me, I will sing about Your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.” Psalm 59:16

After a long silence…they are singing. I stepped out into my backyard to finish my last cup of coffee…well, at least for a couple hours. When I opened the door, my backyard, and apparently the backyards, and front yards, and side yards of my neighbors were all filled with hundreds, and who knows maybe thousands, of cicadas singing their song. What is a cicada? Well, it an insect, and quite honestly, an ugly insect that emerges late summer. And if I’ve got it right…this bunch is special…special indeed.

So, when Facebook only existed at Harvard University and when the sitcom “Friends” aired its last episode, a newly hatched brood of cicada nymphs (babies) fell from the trees and burrowed into the dirt. They stayed there snacking on the sap of rootlets and slowly growing…until now. The cicadas that were singing that morning, again if I am correct, have been preparing for these days for 17 years and folks, to them it is time to party.

You’ve probably heard the song of the cicadas. It can be loud and it can be annoying, unless of course you are a cicada. You see, they are not just singing, they are singing a love song. They are letting everyone know that they are up, they are out, and they are ready to prepare for the future. They have just a few days to sing their love song, find someone to love, start a family and, uh, die. That is one reason they are singing with such gusto. They don’t worry about annoying their neighbors…they are just looking for love.

In a few days, our yards will be a lot quieter. The party will be over, their love song will be silenced and buried in the ground will be millions and millions of nymphs waiting for their time to sing. The beautiful thing about us is that we don’t have to wait 13 years, or 17 years or even one year to sing. We have the opportunity to sing every day, and it is an opportunity we should embrace. There is a Latin saying that says “Carpe diem.” Now don’t confuse that with the surgery you have when your wrist hurts. That is carpal tunnel and has nothing to do with singing…unless it is the blues.

No, Carpe diem means that we are to seize the day…to make the most of every day. It means that we are to sing our love song clearly and loudly. “Love song” you ask? Sure. If we look around we have so much to sing about. Breathing makes the list…so does seeing, hearing, and walking. If you don’t think those things are worth singing about about…ask someone who can’t. Oh, and then there are people…people like family, like friends, like the guy who rides on the back of the trash truck and once a week hauls your garbage off. Ever thank him? Ever include him in your love song, your life song? If not, why not? You see the more we are grateful, the more we realize how much we have to sing about.

So, tomorrow, step out and see who is singing in your world…and join them. Dare to believe that you have a reason to sing…even if your world is less than you wished for. Stop, pause, and listen, and believe. There is Someone who loves you dearly, Who wants to walk with you, Who believes in you and that is something no circumstance can steal away. So, sing and believe, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

life, Military memories, Scripture, Southern born

I Said, “Sing”

Posted on June 1, 2020June 7, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27

Bummer. I knew I should have listened. I have always liked music and I have always loved to sing. From the time my mother forced my oldest sister to allow me to sing at her wedding…I’ve been hooked. Not only do I like music I generally like almost all kinds of music. To me music is the melody of life. It often expresses emotions and feelings that otherwise might go unexpressed. So I sing…loud and all the time.

You know, some people says, “I saw you at the store the other day.” Not me. People will say, “I heard you at the store the other day.” Regardless of where I am there is usually a song somewhere close by. And the funny part is you never know what you will get. It might be “Amazing Grace” or Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” That’s really not an issue except for the fact I work at a church. It can be kinda strange.

Basic training in the Air Force is that time when they teach you the ways of being an airman. That includes knowledge and action. Clearly it involves learning to follow orders. I was raised in the South so saying, “Yes, sir” or “Yes, ma’am” came real easy for me. I was even a pretty compliant person. But one day, well, I just missed it.

For some reason I was in the barracks by myself and I was letting it go. It was an old hymn, maybe “Amazing Grace.” From somewhere a voice boomed, “Shut-up.” Well, I thought it was one of the guys jerking my chain so I kept right on singing at the top of my lungs. From somewhere the booming voice boomed again, “I said shut-up.” It was just about then that I vaguely remembered hearing that voice before. “Oh, that’s right,” I said, “that’s the voice of my drill instructor, Sergeant Catchings.” Oops. Game, set, match.

So he comes from somewhere and is madder than a hornet. “Taylor” he said, “didn’t I tell you to shut-up?” he boomed in his drill sergeant voice. I knew there was no use trying to explain that I didn’t know it was him so I just muttered a weak, “Yes, sir.” So he walks over to the mop closet, opens the door and invites me to step inside. Gulp. I step inside and as he shuts the door he said just one word, “Sing!”

So, with all its odors and in the dark, I start belting out “Amazing Grace.” After a few verses, he opens the door and says, “Do you know, “Rock of Ages?” “Yes, sir” I said. Once again came the one word command, “Sing.” The door closes and I sing. After a few verses, the door opens and he said, “Do you know…” and he named another hymn long forgotten now. “Yes sir” I said. You know what he said, “Sing.” Well, after a few verses the door opens and he says, “Get out.” I wasn’t sure if he meant out of the closet or out of the Air Force and I didn’t stick around to find out. I got out.

Well, I learned something that day. It is important that I learn to recognize and obey the voices around me…especially those that might be in charge. I never missed the voice of Sergeant Catchings again. When I heard that booming voice…I listened. No more mop closets. Listen to your sergeant. Oh, and even more importantly, listen to God.

You see, one day Jesus was describing His followers to a bunch of religious bad guys. He said, “My sheep (code for followers) know My voice. I know them and they follow Me.” That verse, in English, has 12 very important words. First, he said, “My sheep know my voice.” Check. We need to recognize Jesus’ voice. Amid all the noise of the world we have got to hear Him. Second, He said, “I know them.” Wait, what? He knows us. I like that. It means that He has a relationship with me. He is looking out for me. It also means He knows my quirky habits like singing too loud in the middle of WalMart…and loves me anyway. Last, “They follow me.” What He is saying is that followers follow. Plain and simple. Follow Him and you might avoid the “mop closets” of life. Trust me…I’ve been there and done that. It’s not the kind of place you want to visit or sing in. I’m sure Sergeant Catchings had my best interest in mind. He was there to teach me discipline and he did. Looking back, I’m sure he thought it was all pretty humorous. So do I…now. But that day, well, I just wish I had listened a little closer. Its’ important that you…. Wait, do you hear something? What’s that? Is it Jesus saying something? Oh, He’s whispering. “Rest in Me. I’ve got this.” “Yes, sir” I whisper. I believe you do.