Lydia is at a Vacation Bible School this week. The curicullum is by Group Publishing and it’s called Crocodile Dock. It’s kind of a swampy theme with lightning bugs, crocodiles and raccoons. (Are racoons swampy?) Anyway, the first day we got a CD with all their songs. The idea is to play the CD all week so the kids can learn the song. Then on Friday night, they’ll be “performing” them for us!
As of Day 3 of VBS, we have now listened to that CD approximately 25 times. I don’t know about Lydia but *I* know all the lyrics! The main theme song is kind of a O-Brother-Where-Art-Thou thing with banjos and harmonicas. It is actually extremely fun and cool.
But what gets me really excited is the lyrics (I’m typing these from memory):
I will not be afraid
Tho’ trouble’s out there night and day
I will not respond in fear
‘Cuz God is always always always yeah, He’s always here!
I mean, could anyone have written a better song for my daughter with the shy-bashful-fearful-scaredy-cat tendencies?! So, here we are singing in the car, clapping and doing the motions 14 times a day and I see her boldly singing, “I WILL NOT RESPOND IN FEAR!” I really believe this week was crafted for her. I believe the truths she’s learning this week—especially from this theme song will be rooted in her heart. Then she’ll be able to hang on to it when she needs it.
I’m a big believer in positive, up-lifting, faith-building words. Proverbs 18:21 says, “From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.” Imagine “harvesting” your words…this could be good or bad. I don’t want to walk around saying, “My head hurts. Probably a tumor.” or “My husband hasn’t called in 3 hours. He must have been in a wreck.” or “Lydia, you don’t want to do that. You’ll just get scared.” I want to speak LIFE into my kids and myself!
I’m not talking about positive thinking or crazy self-talk. I’m just talking about words that build faith. Words that confirm, lift up or repeat God’s promises to us. And there is no better way to do it than with music! I remember some of the craziest songs from when I was a kid. I know one day when Lydia’s 8 or 10, this theme song will pop to her mind. God will use it to remind her of His promise of peace and power!
So, my two suggestions:
1. Find a Crocodile Dock somewhere this summer! At the very least your kids will learn a good song about being fearless!
2. Get some good Christian kids’ music! One of my favorite memories from being a Children’s Pastor was leading kids in singing songs with lyrics like, “Jesus, you are my best friend! And you will always be! And nothing will ever change that!” There is nothing like seeing 300 kids sing something like that at the top of their lungs!
Click over to HisKids.net. It’s an online radio, basically. But full of today’s hippest kids’ performers! You can listen to see who you like best. My two faves: Yancy and Rob Biagi!
Also, try out Amber Sky Records. It’s a subscription based website where you can download individual songs for your kids. It also includes the lyrics, chord charts and some even have music videos. Pretty fancy.
(And oh! look! You can listen to a clip of the Crocodile Dock theme song here!)
