Praising God At 101.4 Decibels

I love animals… I always have and over the years, I have enjoyed the companionship of a menagerie of child hood pets, my living “lovees”. I have loved cats and dogs… budgies and cockatiels… guinea pigs, chinchillas, mice, and hamsters… sheep, jumping, popcorn baby goats, horses and feisty, rabble-rousing open-all-the-stalls-and-door-to-the-grain room, pony.

This deep love for God’s creatures started early. I was told that at two, my grandmother could hardly keep me from walking between the fetlocks of our neighbor’s palomino mare. At any rate, after winning an Easter coloring contest at four, with the grand prize being an adorable little, black and white Dutch bunny no bigger than a Starbucks coffee mug, I was hooked. I could love this pet whenever I wanted and readily called her my own.

One of my favorite pets and live-in companion is a tiny, peach-colored canary, named BeBe. We have been friends for almost 5 years now. I remember when I brought him home as a little fledgling, to my cozy little kitchen with twinkle lights. I remember how he got his name. My grandson couldn’t say bird, so he was BeBe and the name stuck. BeBe is a song bird extraordinaire. He loves to sing and does so for hours, despite my daughter’s incessant sshh’ing. BeBe doesn’t just sing, Oh that would be an understatement. He sings loud, ear piercing, really, and when pleased can be recorded at no less than 101.4 decibels.

Little birds love to sing. They live to sing their unending praises to God, worshiping happily, every day regardless of rain, snow or blustery sleet. I imagine, if BeBe could talk, he would say…

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah”

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion”
(Psalm 84: 1-7).

If you are traveling through that Valley of Baca, the valley of weeping, a vale of tears, shoulder-shaking wails, sing. Sing. Sing to God. Give Him your sacrifice of song. Let Him change your sadness to joy. Sing loud and long… Sing at 101.4. decibels. Don’t listen to ssshhhh’ing. Sing unashamed and find strength. His strength will be your strength. From strength to strength, you will go… on the way to Zion.