It’s my son’s birthday and there will be singing today; nothing particularly spectacular, but no birthday is complete without at least one rendition of the Happy Birthday Song. Today’s Psalm (psalm is another word for song), begins with the words

Sing to the Lord a new song,

for he has done marvellous things.

Psalm 98

Traditionally, in our family, a stack of pancakes covered in candles are served for breakfast each birthday, but this year my son requested waffles instead, and his sister made them, and forgot the candles!!! Everything is changing around us. There are losses and bereavements within the changes, but there will be marvellous things too. It would be easy to sing a song of lament as we pack up our home for the past 12 years, put into storage the books and props used for school assemblies, toddler groups, cooking club… not knowing when I will next need to use them. If ever.

But if I fixate on the past, like Lot’s wife I may find myself turning into a pillar of salt, tears are powerful things. Yes there are sadnesses that need to be acknowledged, but God has a future for us all, a marvellous future.

Another birthday for my son has meant that he has been able to get his first dose of the vaccine, apply for a part time job (and get an interview!). For all of us we will have a new community to belong to, new dog walks to discover; new freedoms for the teenagers; new takeaways for the hubby; new ways of serving God and maybe even discovering new spiritual gifts and talents that can be used in this new role, for me.

This week has been one of ‘feeling all the feels’, emotions have been close to the surface. Perhaps I have been holding on to an old song and need to find a new one to sing instead?

Read the full Psalm here.