Moved by Music

This is a different post than I normally share – a bit more personal, but I was led to write it and wanted to see if it resonated with any of you.

The other day as I was sitting in traffic in my new delightful commute home (while I do adore our new place, I live further away from work and the commute is tragically twice as long), “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” came on my iPod and my eyes got a little teary.  This was the song I walked down the aisle to when I married my college sweetheart.

When I was trying to select music for our wedding ceremony, I was stumped on what I should choose to walk down the aisle to. We knew we wanted it to be meaningful, but just didn’t know what that was.  I called my sister to help us and she encouraged us to choose something that not only represented our love for each other, but also represented what walking the aisle symbolizes – to reflect that we as believers, the bride of Christ, wait with anticipation for the day we will be reunited with our Bridegroom.

When she said this, I knew “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” was the song I wanted to walk down the aisle to.  Now that it has this deeper meaning to me, when I sing this song in church or hear it on my iPod, I’m always overwhelmed with love, gratitude, thankfulness and peace.  It now represents the love and respect I have for the person I will live my earthly life with and with the One who created me.

I think it’s amazing that music can be so moving – taking you back to memories and experiences so quickly.  When my mom was a senior in high school her grandfather (a man who came to America with a dream, his bride and a couple bills in his pocket) died at Christmas time.  When she was a junior in college, my uncle was diagnosed with a brain tumor around Christmas and then died several years later during the Christmas season.  Because of this, my mom almost always tears up at the Christmas Eve church service when we’re singing hymns.  Literally, when the lights go out and we hold our individual candles, there are more often than not tears rolling down her cheeks.  Tears for both the loss she has experienced and gratefulness for the blessings she’s been given.

Do you ever feel moved to tears by music?  Is there a song in particular that triggers emotions or specific experiences for you?  I would love to hear about how music or a specific song has been meaningful in your own life.

Thanks so much for reading and sharing! XO –

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24 thoughts on “Moved by Music”

  1. First off – always love seeing your wedding photos! But I’m a sap and music always brings me to tears, especially when I was choosing the song to walk down the aisle to…mostly because I was envisioning that moment!

  2. I really enjoy reading this more personal post. I love Come Thou Fount and music in general, for this reason. I’m immediately transported back to the time in my life when a song was likely my ‘anthem’. The song for me that I can hardly make it completely through without choking on my tears is “How He Loves” by JMM. Every time.

    Heather | Port City Prescription

  3. I am the same way with music! I can listen to an old playlist and recall what was happening in my life at the time I first made it. The congregational hymn at our wedding was “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and I cried happy tears as we stood there with all our friends and family singing along with us. I have always loved this hymn, but now it has special meaning. The final verse says:

    Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
    Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
    Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
    Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

    I know that there will be hard times in our lives and in our marriage, but the line “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” reminds me of God’s promise to work all things for our good–even if we don’t understand every piece of the puzzle.

    Thanks for sharing, Kathleen!

  4. Aww Kathleen I am exactly the same! How Great Thou Art does it for me. I am getting married on New Year’s Eve and walking down the aisle to All Things Bright & Beautiful. I can’t wait!

    Thanks for sharing this personal post… loved it because I can totally relate.
    xo

  5. I am the same way! However, I cry at the drop of a hat, so music, commercials, cheesy stories, friends getting married = waterfalls. Oy!

  8. Fix You by Coldplay always gets my eyes watery. The song reminds me of what I’ve been through and the scars (internally) that I carry with me. However, it also reminds me of how grateful I am for God’s blessings….big and small.

  9. So precious and perfect for me to read today, considering that this is the congregational hymn in my own wedding in 10 (holy cow!) days. The lyrics of this song, the music, and the message are all so beautiful. The Sufjan version is so wonderful – a family favorite around Christmas for us (I think it originally appeared on that set of Christmas albums he did). I love in the last chorus when he sings, instead of “tune my heart,” “tune my ART.” Perfect and poignant reminder that no matter what we do in life, we can always bring glory to God and service to others.

    Loved this! : )

    1. I cannot believe you’re that close to the big day!!! So beautifully written and I know your wedding weekend will be absolutely wonderful because you are such a poised and gracious bride!!! XOXO

  10. Wow, your wedding pictures are stunning. I love “Come Thou Fount”. I could never pick just one song. But you’re so right, in an instant, a song can take you back to a memory. I walked down the aisle to “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us”. This was the song that my mother walked down the aisle and it was also played at my daughter’s wedding. Love this post.

  11. This was a beautiful post, Kathleen. I teared up reading it. The recessional I chose for Bill and me to leave the church was “Lift High the Cross.” It has always been one of my favorites. When my dad died unexpectedly a couple of years ago, I requested that it be sung as we entered the church behind him. It helped sustain me in a way that rather surprised me. Yes, yes, yes, I agree that music has a powerful effect on us.

    Melanie Jolly

    P.S. I checked out your blog today to see about Miss Lula (we have black cat that looks very much like her!) and to see pics of your new place. I feel like I have had a little devotional in addition to learning some neat fashion tips!

    1. I love that song – how amazing that it represents so much in your life. You’re the sweetest to check on Queen Lu. Her cancer is sadly still growing but we are pampering her as best we can…in fact, she’s curled in a ball right beside me in he bed right now! Thank you so much for your sweet words and support and for sharing your own experiences XOXO

  13. Loved reading this and I love that song so much. Personally, Amazing Grace never fails to bring me to tears. My grandmother died on Christmas Eve 2008, which is also my mom’s birthday, and our Christmas Eve services are usually a similar feeling too.

    1. My heart goes out to you – I know that Christmas must represent so many experiences in your family as well. Such a beautiful song – thank you so much for sharing XOXO

  14. Little Wonders by Rob Thomas
    I’m sure it wasn’t meant to be that kind of song but during that time it was fitting for the situation at hand.
    It gets to me when I hear it.

  15. I love “Come Thou Font”. It’s one of my favorite hymns. I walked down the aisle to Debussey’s “Girl With the Flaxen Hair” because my dad always used to say the song reminded him of me. What could be more appropriate for him walking me down the aisle?

    The 2 songs that will always get to me though are the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” and Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”. Both have gotten me through some hard times. Both have an immediate calming effect on me.

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