How can I keep from singing?

Winter. Gloomy, dreary, winter. I'm ashamed to say I've become a little scared of winter ever since we replaced the blustery, sunshiny Brisbane winter days with the cold, dark, miserable Melbourne equivalent just over seven years ago. Many of the darkest days of my short life have occurred during Melbourne's winter, and, try as I might, I never seem to shake off the feeling of dread when the days shorten and the darkness subtly begins to creep in. Oh, I know there is beauty, music, and poetry in these long months, but it is grey, melancholic, and causes my soul to ache. This year I'm finding it worse than usual, for I'm missing my sunshiny sister, Fiona, who is half-way across the globe. I'm glad she is fulfilling her dream to travel in Europe, and would not wish her here if I could, but oh, I miss her!

Music both helps and hurts me during these times. As a musician, I cannot help but find delight in determining the thoughts and cares hidden in my heart from the world and expressing them through melody and harmony. When winter causes these secrets to become burdensome and disheartening, even the music I play pains me, but it hurts more to remain silent. Oh, of course there are wondrous moments of joy interspersed in these months, but they are all-too-quickly swallowed up.

This year, I'm determined to fight these winter blues. I'm not doing a great job so far, I know, but I want to enjoy and acknowledge God's goodness all year round, not just when the sun is shining. My battle-plan is simple: I will sing. Yes, I'm determined to use music to my advantage in this case, consciously singing a song or two each morning, whether hymns, choruses, or songs by Christian musicians that I like. Singing is beautiful, anyone can do it, any place, any time, although some places may be more appropriate than others! No one sings exactly the same as you do, so singing praise to God is a very special personal worship and devotion. There are numerous passages in the Bible that draw attention to the importance of praise, but I fell into the trap of thinking praise was reserved for Sunday worship. Now I realize my error, I want to say like David the psalmist, "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Ps. 34:1)

Yes, winter is gloomy, but God is good. All the time. How can I keep from singing?!

Be Thou my Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my Heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;

Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Ancient Irish hymn;

Translated into English in 1908 by Mary E. Byrne;

Set to verses in 1912 by Eleanor H. Hull.