Song In Your Heart ...

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart

and can sing it back to you

when you have forgotten the words."

author unknown

While attending a Native American gathering, I listened to a story being told about learning a person's song.  The song comes to a young woman while waiting the conception of her child.  Throughout the pregnancy, the woman sings the song to her unborn child, teaching it to the father, midwife or any other woman who would attend the birth.  As the child was brought into this world, the women would sing the song in honor of the baby.  Upon delivery, the infant would be presented to the tribe for the first time and all members would sing the baby's song.  At every significant stage of the child's life and all though adulthood, this particular song would be offered by every member of the tribe.  Upon the death of this person, the song would be offered for the very last time.  Everyone had a song.

There is another story that I have heard about a little boy who sat on his mother's lap throughout the pregnancy of his soon to be born little sister.  He would sit and sing to his unborn sister, patiently awaiting her arrival.  When the sister was born, however, she failed to thrive.  Hospital rules prevented the little boy from visiting the baby, but relented only when the impending death seemed unavoidable.  Finally, the little boy sat in his mother's lap, holding his baby sister for the very first time.  He sang to her, just as he had during the months of pregnancy.  The surrounding nurses were amazed at the stirring of the infant.  She became animated while listening to the songs of the little boy.  She began to nurse with vigor and soon displayed a will to live.  The boy continued to sing her song.

Does anyone know your song?  When did you allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to open your heart releasing a melody?  Have you ever looked deeply into the eyes of a loved one and heard a distant chant or tune?

I believe that we all carry a song in our heart and those dearest to us learn to understand the unspoken words.  When life disappoints or we grow discouraged, and cannot find our way, friends can sing the unsung song, soothing emotions with the unknown lyrics just like a lullabye.