Soundtrack of Life

A couple of years ago, my wife and I were staying with some friends in Colorado. We were playing games at the kitchen table and I was struck as their oldest son was singing almost every song that came on the Christian radio station.  I didn't know very many of the songs yet this 1st grader was singing every word.

During this same time period, my sons and I would listen to the radio. I smiled because my oldest was picking up the words to secular music. It was cute listening to him sing songs with the radio. But I started listening to the words he was singing and a child that young shouldn't be singing words like that. Not profanity, but just the ideas behind them.  So what do I do?

I need to tell you that I didn't grow up on Contemporary Christian Music.  I was raised on different music entirely thanks to my older brother and my mom's secret sister at church.  My soundtrack growing up was Acappella, Donny Osmond, the Carpenters and Air Supply...Don't laugh...Ok...you can snicker.  I remember songs like, "Jesus Freak", "Dive", "Big House" but as far as LISTENING to CCM, no, there was some spiritual line that I felt I couldn't cross...I mean...they use...INSTRUMENTS!!!

So I tentatively turned the channel to the local KLOVE channel...no lightning strike...no thunder...whew!  I knew some of the songs but many were new. The kids didn't seem to mind. So with the little boy from CO in mind, I continued to listen to this station. IF I was going to brainwash my children with music, I wanted them to be singing a message that was about/to God.

Today on our 20 minute drive to school we sing along with KLOVE. My son's musical taste is starting to develop. He likes Mandisa's "Morning Song" but more because he likes the Toby Mac's rapping.  He was singing and dancing having a blast.  I've caught him other times just looking out the window singing along to himself.  But today for some reason it hit me.  I was listening to a 1st grader singing along with the radio but this was my child. My son.

Now I am NOT suggesting anyone reading this turn off secular music or that if you listen to secular music you are less of a believer than me and my family.  This was a decision I made. Does listening to CCM mean that my children will grow up to be faithful strong believers, NO.  It's gonna take more than Chris Tomlin, Toby Mac, and KJ-52 to get my kids to heaven.  But I do believe that we are affected by the music we listen to.  Those songs become our soundtrack. We attach ideas and feelings to those songs and they become a part of who we are.  I can't hear "Puppy Love" or "All Out of Love" without thinking of summer days jumping on the trampoline.  I just want my kids to put God into children's soundtrack while I still have a say in the type of music they listen to.