The song is set to repeat. We do it 7 times, complete with hand motions for Age of Imperialism, Queen Victoria, Empress of India 1877, 1948, assassination, passive resistance, India’s independence, Mohandas Gandhi .
It takes our fingers and bodies to make the memories etch into our muscles, our minds. And it works. I remember obscure dates and facts about Columbus, Westward Expansion, the split of the Roman Empire.
We learn these history sentences week after week. Creation to present day. And each event is indexed as my students chant and sing and commit to embedding these facts to be pulled later and wound tight around creative thought. A foundation to build original thought on. To a time when these facts will fill in with opinions and background and experience.
To a time when we are walking through the air museum and Kaia stops short and begins to sing about the event on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese began bombing Pearl Harbor, and she sings in her tiny voice of the US and the Allies and World War 2 and she gets that these planes suspended from the ceiling with the perfect red dot and the angry slashes of the swastika and the veterans gray and stooped, who pass the time handing out pamphlets and pointing the way to the souvenir shop once stood in uniform and did battle. And they are not just artifacts in a museum, or pages in a history book. They have a life behind them.
And I remember the staying power of the songs I memorized, long and lazy summers in a hot corridor, the pews pushed back and the doors propped open to the sweltering heat. I sat sticky legged at the 8 by 10 folding table covered with a white vinyl tablecloth, each place set with construction paper cutouts, glitter, and Elmer’s white school glue. I’d pry off the sticky dot of dried glue wedged onto the orange top and squeeze hard, milky white paste flowing onto my cutout. I remember I plastered the cross with pink glitter, its sticky sparkles adhering to me just as the scriptures sang over me and through me, stuck. The same songs my mother’s voice sang to me in lullabies sweet into my pillow as she smoothed back hair from forehead in the dim evening light, my eyes heavy and sinking beneath her words. Peace.
And then there were so many years when those words meant nothing to me, but still they were there, though I could find no reason to believe them or to try to recall them. They were nonsense background noise. But the day would come when those words and scripture proved their staying power.
That there is more to writing scripture on our hearts than the chanting and the pages being flipped and the melodies that wrap words around notes and sink them in to swaying hips and smiling lips. I thank God for those words, etched on my heart, at the ready, recalled when I need to know there is life behind them. That they are more than history or artifact. That they are life.
This post took 7 minutes from start to finish. I couldn’t get my thought finished in the five this week, I kind of felt rambly tonight. It’s just been that kind of week. Grace.
Wanna join in? You know you do. Here’s the rundown.
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
This weeks prompt: Stay
Lovely post.
denise recently posted..Five Minute Friday/Stay
Oh YES what music brings up in me is still amazing. So many memories are tied to music in my life! Sunday school songs and hanging out with friends and even the skip counting tape I used with my big (grown) kids when they were little…
Love it! Great FMF!
Dawn @ The Momma Knows recently posted..Stay
You preached a sermon here, friend:) The staying power of the word–amen!
kimberlycoyle recently posted..Five Minute Friday: Stay
I love learning through music. WHat a powerful truth about the staying power of the Word, and words. Beautiful, Alia Joy.
PS: what history tools are you using? Curious about the songs you’re listening to
Kris recently posted..Stay
We are doing Classical Conversations, so it’s the timeline and history sentences that go with that. They’re really great for the kids… and me.
Beautiful. So glad you didn’t stop at five. You reminded me of words from a wise mom, make them memorize scripture until they won’t. Yes, hide it. In my heart too. But history songs? I don’t know any of those. I wish I did.
Laura @ Pruning Princesses recently posted..When you Can’t Stay
Right? Those scriptures have carried me. I want my kids to have that as well.
music is such a powerful learning tool. we use lyrical life science and used to have a whole series tapes of proverbs and psalms set to music. the heat here has long since fatigued those cassettes!
i, too, am glad you didn’t stop at 5 min… but wow – all that in only 7? you can write!
richelle @ “our wright”-ing pad recently posted..Five Minute Friday ~ Stay
We use lyrical life science as well and have about 3-4 cd’s with scripture that I have also used. My kids saw some old cassettes in a box we had in our garage and they had no idea what they were!
I hope to tell you kiddos one day how blessed they are…
YES!
My mind is set to lyrics. I pray the lyrics I share with my child creates a healthy impression and not a scar…
thank you for encouraging me today with this beautiful write, friend! Love and hugs to you!
Nikki recently posted..STAY ~ Five Minute Friday
Like you, memorizing comes much easier when I add a tune, music. So thankful HE gives us more than one way to learn HIS word and precepts.
Stefanie Brown (@stefanieybrown) recently posted..30 Days of Thanksgiving :: Day 16…
“I thank God for those words, etched on my heart, at the ready, recalled when I need to know there is life behind them. That they are more than history or artifact. That they are life.”
Amen.
Nancy @ Pilgrim Wanderings recently posted..Stay – #fiveminutefriday
This is enchanting in the telling. A beautiful telling, a sermonette, a devotional. Just holy. Love your voice and heart, friend. So glad I visited here this day , for I discovered this treasure.
Elizabeth, wynnegraceappears recently posted..Just Give Me All The Children’s Books
Thank you so much. Your words bless me. Glad you stopped by even though this reply is a few weeks old. I always take weekends off but the last blog break went a bit longer than expected.
Omnipotence = Staying Power = You! Always One with the One, Alia Joy! Always {although I seem to only express it on Friday’s} celebrating you!
Paula Barnett recently posted..I choose. I stay.
I KNEW there was know way that took only 5 minutes, wink…lol. You’re amazing. I can just see you doing motions and singing these songs. I too have words etched in my heart and am so grateful that I can recall those things in a moment of need…or just need to sometimes! I am feeling a bit rambly myself so I must be off to write a bit. Hugs for the weekend.
Jessica recently posted..5 Minute Friday: Stay
Hi Alia
Good for you! Ramblings are often necessary to make sense of the mess in our heads, sort of like cleaning your room, just here, it is your mind. Your rambling clean-up blessed us with your beautiful words. Thank you.
Blessings
Mia
Mia recently posted..Stay in Me
Thankful that once again I can offer grace to you for not stopping at 5 minutes and I receive a grace gift in return from your words. You take me right along with you into your life and I am so happy to be allowed there. Honored to call you friend.
Amy Tilson recently posted..Come, Sit and Stay
I remember the lyrics to songs from my childhood far more than even my teens or adulthood. Hiding truth in their hearts with song, reminds me of hiding vitamins in their food.
Odd, I know, but true. And maybe just as nourishing.
Kathi recently posted..The Lullaby of Thanksgiving
These words are so moving. Ironic that they’re about the word “stay”. You are pulling this stuff up from the depths. I’m amazed that this is raw, unedited with how beautifully it all flowed. The stuff about the planes and you at the craft table. Just real good “feel like I’m there” stuff.
Thank you, Darcy. I am learning to preserve my stories.