There’s just something about music that deeply touches my soul. I’ve often been asked about my writing style, and one of the sparks that generates writing within me comes from listening to and singing songs that “tell stories”. There are so many songwriters that have touched my soul with their beautiful words and music. Their songs evoke emotions of love, romance, mystery, sadness, or great joy within me. Music inspires me and the lyrics intrigue me, comfort me, and imprint vivid images in my mind. It’s often hard to explain, but I am a very sensory and tactile person. I feel the words and the music. You can ask me about a song I loved many years ago, and I can quote it word for word.  Although, if you asked me what I wore the day before, I’d most likely not remember. Listen and “feel” the words of Rich Mullins, John Denver, Kenny Loggins… There are just too many to name because so very many have touched my life.

One of the songwriters who touched my life most was my mother. Her writing came from her heart, and her songs conveyed the love of God to all who listened.  My mom wrote many gospel songs, but I think the song she wrote for her mother, “Around My Mama’s Knees” always meant the most to her. Now that my mama’s at home in Heaven, it means the most to me. This song relates to the scripture “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) And this is how she raised all of her children.

Almost from the time I could talk, I remember singing with my mother. The songs I most remember singing as a very small child are “Jesus Loves the Little Children”, “Deep and Wide”, and “Jesus Loves Me”. These are most likely the very same church songs you sang as well. As I grew older, my mom would often enlist my sister and I to sing “special songs” with her at church. Her favorite hymn was “I’ve Got a Mansion”. I remember the feeling of standing next to her by the piano as Mrs. Groom played, and we all sang out with our hearts and souls to the congregation. This became quite a routine, and amazingly I never felt the shyness I often possessed when I spoke in public.

As I’ve said before, life experiences deeply influence a writer, and my early life experiences most definitely left their impression on me and continue to shape who I am today.