The kids were getting tired and a bit cantankerous.
“Sit still!”
“He hit me!”
“ Don’t hit your sister!”
“She pinched me!”
“Don’t pinch your brother!”
“Be quiet, NOW!”
One adorable little red-haired Irish lassie was crying as we boarded the bus to take us from the castle to the parking lot. Her mom and dad were trying to soothe her. “Shh, shh, shh—“
Finally, her mom started humming. We recognized the melody and joined in.
“The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.”
The words were in English, German and French, but we all knew the song! It started to rain.
As the driver turned on the wipers—
“The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, Swish, swish, swish. . . .
The mommies and the daddies sang their verses and the bus driver sang his in a strong baritone voice.
The driver of the bus says, move on back
All through the town!
By the time we reached the parking lot, the rain was stopping; the sun was coming out!
It’s amazing the difference a simple song can do to calm and cheer us. Singing and humming stimulate the Vagas nerve which helps to regulate your breathing and your heart rate. It even affects your digestive system in a positive way! Maybe we should hum and sing more! Not a singer? Whistling works, too!
For you consideration: Psalm 95:1-2: Ps 96:1-2; Ps 105: 1-2