The lazy, hazy days of summer are now upon us. I checked the weather for the week and we will soon have a high of 96 degrees!! HOT! Maybe you’re like me: only early mornings and late evenings are for going outdoors. The time in between means hiding out in the air-conditioning. Others of you have all the summertime adventures planned: the pool, the beach, traveling and the like. Either way it goes, the summer time is a great time to introduce hymns to your children.
Why hymns?
Well, we need the old paths again, plain and simple. So many of us grew up on hymns, or maybe our parents did, and if we think about it, we can remember the timeless truths they contain. Many children don’t even know what hymnal is! So many churches today no longer sing hymns and are opting for “praise & worship” styles instead. Some of those songs are great and can help usher us into worshiping the LORD. But, hymns provide such a richness in the heritage of our faith. Our children are missing out on that–and maybe we are, too.
Do we know why we worship the King? Do we know why we believe in Him? Do we know exactly what His sacrifice at Calvary did for us? Do we know why we are in need of a Savior? Do we understand foundational doctrine? Learning hymns is a lovely way to instill these foundations of our Faith in Christ in our children. They need to know the reason behind the hope we have as Believers (1 Peter 3:15).
Why summer time?
Summer is the perfect time to learn something new. The days just have a different feel to them, don’t they? Whether you school year-round, take the summers completely off, or fall somewhere in between, including hymns into your day is easy to do. They can be coupled with Bible study in the mornings or as a way to signal the start of your summer learning routine. Alternatively, learning hymns can be a great way to usher in a calm at the end of a busy day or are a great activity during a rainy summer day.
Where to start?
There are some amazing playlists compiled of classic hymns. A quick search online will get you started if you’re a bit rusty. My children enjoy singing along, so I usually print the lyrics off for each of them. You can also order a hymnal or see if your church has a few copies to spare.
We usually learn one hymn per month, but since it’s summer you could do two per month or even one each week! You can start with a few tried and true ones like Amazing Grace, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, or Nothing But the Blood of Jesus. Alternatively, you can mix it up and begin with some you’ve never heard before like I Know Whom I Have Believed, Come Ye Disconsolate, or Break Thou the Bread of Life.
Either way, you just can’t go wrong! Speak to your children about the meaning behind the words they are singing. Go to the Scriptures and show them a verse or two that corresponds with the song. Show them how these are the very truths we build our lives upon.
Do you incorporate hymns in your family worship? Or, in your homeschool music curriculum? Do you sing hymns in church?
