Celebrating with Song the Day that the Lord Has Made

The sun is shining.  The breeze is perfect.  Around us, nature’s splendor decorates the day.  My children and I sit on a swing, rocking back and forth, enjoying it all while singing praises.

Another day it is overcast.  Rain splashes on our minivan windshield as we drive from one appointment to another.  Yet, inside the car, we are bright with song.

What song?

This is the day. This is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice. Let us rejoice and be glad in it, and glad in it.

This is the day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the day. This is the day that the Lord has made.

This refrain is one we have enjoyed time and time again over the past few years, and one we have adapted into a bit of a game.

A Little Vocabulary and Science and A Lot of Thanksgiving

The game goes like this:

One child points out something in our field of vision.  Then, we either sing something akin to:

That is the tree.  That is the tree that the Lord has made…

Let us rejoice and be glad He did….

That is the tree that the Lord has made.

Or, if the thing pointed out is man-made, something such as

That is the car.  That is the car that the people made...

God gave them the talent and I’m glad He did…

That is the sign that the people made.

And on and on we sing, taking turns noticing all that is around this.

In doing so, we get natural practice with vocabulary through naming the things we notice.  (I often try to notice things that might include vocabulary the children rarely hear.)  We also get in a bit of scientific classification:  What is natural and what is made by human hands?  And, finally, we offer much thanks to God.

The children delight in song and play, while I am uplifted by seeing the details of the world through their eyes while joining them in praise.

What are some of your favorite faith songs for children?  Have you adapted any of them into games or learning activities?  Please share in a comment and feel free to include lyrics, a link to an audio or video clip or a link to a post you’ve written about it.

Also, please feel free to ask a question or share a thought, idea or resources for guiding faith formation in young children.  Other readers and I would be happy to respond in future weeks of Training Happy Hearts: A Call to Faith Formation for Young Children, published here every Sunday.

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