I Am a Promise and a Possibility!
I directed a Children’s Choir many years ago, and I’ll never forget the joy of teaching them songs that not only spoke of God’s love for them but those that caused them, when they sang the words, to be speaking great affirmations over themselves. My own two children, at ages around 10 and 8, were in that choir. Not only did we sing in church, but we were invited to sing for community events. I like to think we were THAT GOOD, but more than likely, we were a novelty – adorable kids singing their little hearts out about God and His love.
One of my favorites and the crowd’s favorite was the fun, cheery and affirming children’s song, “I Am a Promise.” With that catchy tune and lyrics, we just couldn’t go wrong – especially with the cuteness of children – waving at their moms and dads, swaying and twisting and using hand gestures as they sang. “I am a promise/I am a possibility/I am a promise with a capital P/I am a great big bundle of potentiality/And I am learning to hear God’s voice/And I am trying to make the right choices/I’m a promise to be/Anything He wants me to be……./I can go anywhere that He wants me to go/I can be anything that He wants me to be/I can climb the high mountains/I can cross the wide sea/I’m a great big promise, you see!”
As those sweet kids belted out those lyrics about how they can do anything, they were feeding their little souls and spirits with words that ignited a flame inside them. I just know it. Today those kids are in their 40s and 50s. I suspect that most of those kids have kids of their own, and I also suspect that they may be teaching that song to their kids — at least I hope, and if it’s not that song, other songs and words about how they have so much potential to accomplish anything they set their hearts to.
My children, as well as many friends of mine, pray for their children’s future spouses from an early age. Is that a waste of time and effort – after all, they may be very young children? Or is it the absolute, most ROCK-solid thing to be doing — instilling faith into our kids and guaranteeing that our children’s choices will be God’s choices?
It’s a new school year and it is our responsibility as parents and grandparents to input potential and possibility into our children as they embark on another year of being influenced by other children, teachers, and others who catch their eyes and hearts.
Throughout life, they will encounter people who will tell our kids AND us that we can’t do things. Many folks have grown so bitter and disappointed through the years, and they have lost their hope and vision, so they want us to lose ours as well. They don’t feel like a bundle of potentiality, so they don’t want anyone else to feel like one either!
This post today is to inspire you “Don’t listen to naysayers. Listen to God. If He has called you to climb a mountain, cross a sea, teach a class, sing a song, make a speech, build a bridge, write a book, fly a plane, land a plane and even jump out of a plane — then JUST DO IT. Make this your personal slogan: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. Be “I CAN” and “YOU CAN” do anything kind-of-parents and grandparents and friends. After all, we are all “great big bundles of potentiality”!