Day 2 - The meaning behind your blog name

I did explain this a little when I first started this blog, but I also promised to share the rest of the song, which I never did. Lets see if I can remember it all...

Awake my heart to sing
Awake my eyes
Awake my soul
Let joyful praises ring!

Keep no more this silence
Speak no more of dreams
Let the music deep within awaken now in me!

Hush no more sweet melody that stirs within my soul
For if just one voice keeps silent
The world may never hear a joyful song.

As I mentioned in my first post ever, this was the very first song I ever sang with the BYU Womens Chorus. Now, I auditioned for womens chorus no less than five times before I got in, over the space of three years. It wasn't until the 4th year that I FINALLY made it. Those first three years caused me a lot of real emotional pain, but I also learned that there was a strength within me I hadn't known before. I could have given up, and accepted that I just wasn't good enough. But I wanted this, and I knew it was worth wanting. And I knew I was good enough, but however frustrating, I was just scared to prove it. But I was determined to let my joyful song be heard. By the time I got in, no one wanted to be in Womens Chorus more than I did. This song was a very literal reminder of the courage and determination I had gathered from deep within so that I could have this experience. I never forgot it while I sang with them, or after.

As it pertains to my blog, a joyful song is more than just music to me. My life is a joyful song, and one that I choose to share because I hope it will touch someone else's life. What I write might not be worth anything to anyone but me, but then again it might. Besides, some the the best advice I've ever gotten is to not hide my candle under a bushel.

For if just one voice keeps silent
The world may never hear a joyful song.