Praise the Lord

When I was in junior high school, I played the trumpet. I can vividly remember trying to learn how to play. It took a lot of air! When I look back on this period, I give thanks because I was literally making “a joyful noise” with the trumpet.

Of course there were times I did not want to play the trumpet. Sometimes I have days when I don’t want to do anything. But what if I remembered that in everything I do, I can praise God? This is what I love about Psalm 150. It is a reminder to praise God continually for giving us breath for another day.

Now my son is learning to play the trumpet and my daughter is learning to play the flute. Every now and then I smile when I hear them practicing. Their music is a gift, even when it’s not played perfectly.

This is also true for our lives. We do not need to have everything in perfect order before we praise God. All we need to do is offer the very best we can in that moment. Praise and thanks be to God that we have been given breath!