Elusive Harmony, Key a​nd Pitch

When I was a young girl my mother arranged all of the music for our church congregation’s Sunday worship service. Many times, my sisters were featured in the church choir. My sisters loved to sing and even took voice lessons to improve their notable musical talent.

I had a different talent. My talent even came with a special name; I was the “Family finder”.  I possessed a seemingly remarkable skill to find all missing objects. Mom would turn to me for lost dolls, car keys, shoes and anything else that had been misplaced.  I was proud of this talent, but…

One particular Sunday’s musical number featured my two youngest sisters. Many people in the congregation came to them afterward and told them how beautiful their song was. I was simply jealous. So I asked Mom if I could have a turn to sing in church. She was surprised by my question and my desire. She asked me what song I wanted to sing.  “Teach Me to Walk in the Light” was my favorite song I learned at church and I told Mom it’s the one I wanted to sing.

My mother was a gifted vocalist and apparently had passed that talent down through DNA to everyone but me… The concepts and importance of harmony, pitch, and key all eluded me. However, the congregation was small; everyone who wanted to sing was given an opportunity to do so and I certainly felt that it was finally my turn!

Perhaps Mom was a bit relieved that the song I chose is a duet between parent and child.  However, the first verse is a solo by the child. As we gathered at the piano to practice our special musical number, I sang my heart out to the familiar words. Mom stopped playing and with great excitement told me about an idea to make our number extra special. She explained to me that it’s often beautiful when the piano plays the music and the soloist speaks the words of the song in poetic form. (Perhaps she was trying to save the congregation from hearing me sing therefore preserving the quality of music.) Nevertheless,  I insisted on singing my favorite song with all the energy and zest that I felt the words in my heart to mean. My angel mother encouraged me to do just that… Mom joined in on the second and third verses with the same love in which she taught the very message of the lyrics.

We sang the song as written and arranged by Clara W. McMaster.

Teach Me to Walk in the Light
Teach me to walk in the light of his love;
Teach me to pray to my father above;
Teach me to know of the things that are right;
Teach me, teach me to walk in the light.

Come, little child, and together will learn
Of his commandments, that we may return
Home to his presence, to live in his sight-
Always, always to walk in the light.

Father in heaven, we thank thee this day
For loving guidance to show us the way.
Grateful, we praise thee with songs of delight!
Gladly, gladly we’ll walk in the light.

These words summarized all I that hoped was true about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I wanted to believe in a Heavenly Father who knew me and heard me when I prayed. I wanted to believe that the goodness and light I saw in others was the light of Christ, and simply part of who I was.  As I sang out, I literally felt a warm feeling helping me understand that the words I was singing were true.

-JC

As I reflect on this experience today, I ask myself:
Do I choose to stand up and speak out as a disciple of Christ?
Do I recognize the light of Christ in others?
Do I try and emulate Christ’s light?

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 XL eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups quick oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 grated 1.55oz. Hershey Bars
2 cups milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 385 degrees.
Cream butter, peanut butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until fluffy. 

Hand stir in eggs and vanilla; don’t overmix.

Add dry ingredients and grated chocolate all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add an additional 2-3 Tablespoons flour for high elevation. Stir in chocolate chips. 

Scoop out approximately 24 2” balls of dough. For a richer flavor and smoother texture, form cookie dough balls, flatten slightly, and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.  Gently roll. Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet.

Bake at 385 degrees for 12-14 min. Share!