I invited a good friend of mine to guest author this post. I admire her lovable attitude and resilient personality! Meet Anna Sisson… 
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to sing in church with my mother. My mother has a beautiful voice, and I have always aspired to sing like her. However, that is not my greatest talent, but that doesn’t stop me from singing. When I was looking for what to sing, I discovered a song entitled just that, “How Can I Keep From Singing.” I was somewhat familiar with a version from Enya that I listened to as a teenager. Though this version had somewhat of a different vibe. In fact, the fourth verse had entirely different lyrics.
Here are the lyrics from the the original author, Robert Wadsworth Lowry, who was an American Baptist minister in the late 1800’s.
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation,
I hear the sweet, tho’ far-off hymn
That hails a new creation;
Thro’ all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul—
How can I keep from singing?
What tho’ my joys and comforts die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth;
What tho’ the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smooths,
Since first I learned to love it,
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing;
All things are mine since I am his—
How can I keep from singing?
I love how the words don’t mask the fact that life can be hard! But I also love the fact that the words encourage us to rise above the hard times and listen to what brings us hope and peace.
It is so easy to become bitter when things don’t go as planned, or when debts are high, jobs fail, and children disobey or when health gets in the way! Yet, when we remember the many blessings we do have and give thanks, we can rise above and never stop singing praises for our Lord Jesus Christ!
My mother and I may have not had a perfect performance that day, but I am content with the message we shared. It was is to never lose hope or sight of what is most important. Cling to Him with all our might, and of course to never never stop singing!!!!!!
By Anna Sisson (She did a great job, didn’t she? I am uplifted!)
My favorite version, by SheDaisy.
KimPressions 