Making Joyful Noises!

Written By Natalie Wright, Loving the Wise Director of Partnerships

For many years, the Lord has been cultivating in me a deep love for seniors. It began in college when I worked as a caregiver for a sweet older gentleman with dementia. Some of my favorite memories include watching him light up when he spent time with his grandchildren and seeing the peace on his face as he sat with his Bible and listened to music. Later, I worked at an independent senior living community where the residents invested in my life with their wisdom and kindness. They had many stories of God’s faithfulness throughout their lives and encouraged me in my own walk with the Lord as a mother of young children. Those experiences gave me a lasting appreciation for the value and beauty of this season of life.

Recently, I had the opportunity to join a senior home gathering with Loving the Wise, and it was a refreshing reminder that ministry doesn’t have to be complex to be significant. I brought my three daughters (ages 4, 6, and 8), and from the moment we arrived I was struck by how inviting it felt. The anchor leading the visit, Beth, kept things simple, yet every moment was rich with truth. Between singing hymns, she shared Scripture, highlighting the miracle of the Gospel and the hope we have in Jesus. What stood out to me most was how straightforward this ministry is; it wasn’t a huge production or a large-scale event, and it didn’t need to be! It was faithfully showing up together, and loving seniors in the name of Jesus!

During the visit, my daughters each had a microphone connected to a small Bluetooth speaker, and they joined in singing classic hymns and children’s worship songs, like Jesus Loves Me and This Little Light of Mine. The seniors had just as much fun singing the children's songs as my girls did!

There was warmth in the room as multiple generations were blessed by worshiping side-by-side. My heart swelled watching my girls joyfully praise Jesus and seeing the residents' faces beam as the children sang. Afterward, the girls chatted with the residents—sharing high fives, blowing kisses, answering questions about themselves, and learning about the seniors’ lives as well.

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My oldest daughter loved helping pass out the Loving the Wise songbooks; she told me later that the seniors were “so nice” and she loved singing her favorite songs to Jesus with them. My middle daughter shared that seeing the residents smile back at her made her feel special, too. And my youngest? She was thrilled to sing into the microphone, make joyful noises to the Lord, and twirl around, announcing afterward in the car that she wanted to do it all again!

Experiencing this gathering left me feeling incredibly empowered. I walked away thinking, I can do this, too. I don’t need to plan something elaborate, wait until I feel "fully prepared," or have a large group with me. I can gather a few moms from church, bring our children, sing some hymns, share Scripture, and spend time sharing the love of Jesus.

I am honored to be a part of Loving the Wise, and my prayer and hope is that other moms will feel encouraged to step into this ministry. Then they, too, can feel the outpouring of blessings in their own lives and with their children!