When I was a very little girl, my father said that my singing sounded like a dog howling. I was afraid to sing publicly after that, until I head this story:
The monks sang their prayers every night. They were off-key, out of tune, and generally pretty bad. But they sang with all their hearts. Each night when they finished, an angel would descend from Heaven and tell them how wonderful their singing was. But they knew he was only being kind.
Then one dark and stormy night a famous tenor's car broke down in front of the monistary and he asked for lodging for the night. The monks obliged with one request, that the tenor sing their prayers that night. He did and it was the most beautiful singing they had ever heard.
The monks waited all night, but no angel appeared. Finally they prayed and asked why the angel had not come to tell them of the beautiful singing. Surely all of Heaven must have heard it. But when the answer came, it was anything but expected! An angel came down and said that they had not heard any singing of the prayers that night. One of the monks argured that certainly it must have reached the Heavens, as this was the most beautifully done prayers to ever rise from the monistary. He explained that the famous tenor had sung the prayers that night.
"OH," replied the angel. "You see, in Heaven, we don't hear what comes from the lips, but what comes from the heart!"
Ever since I heard that story, I have opened my mouth and sung to the best of my ability. I realize that singing is not my best gift, as it is for so many others on this site. But it IS a joy to me, and so I do it. IF there is any truth to this story, then Heaven must be filled with my singing! |