How God Can Make Something Beautiful Over Time

See how sharing something beautiful can become a powerful way to remember the goodness of God in every season of life.

When my husband first suggested the idea, I went along with it.

Never realizing what a powerful tradition it would become in our family. One of those things we do each year that rivals second only to Christmas morning.

We call it Music Night.

Simple name, I know, but if you ask any of our kids, they’ll tell you it goes far deeper than you might think.

The basic idea is each person brings a song that has a particular meaning to them, and they should come prepared to share why and how they chose that piece. Sometimes, it’s a worship song, but it might well be a secular ballad or country song. We’ve even had a rap song or other unexpected genre of music.

But one thing all the songs have in common is that they somehow, in some way, express our hearts or what we’ve been through in the past year.

And you know what? A song can sometimes say something so much better than we can or, perhaps, are willing to say.

We’ve covered many vulnerable topics in an evening—from fear to heartache to falling in love. And, as close as our family is, I’m always surprised to learn things I’d had no idea family members struggled with, yearned for, or delighted in. It’s truly eye-opening.

As each song is played, we listen together and, for those few moments, listen to what’s in that person’s heart and experience. Then, the following day, one of our sons puts them all together in a playlist called Jacobson Family Music Night 2024 (or current year) and we add it to our musical library.

A small collection of eclectic music that bundles up our year as a family, individually and together.

A powerful testimony of our unique joys and tears.

Seeing the Goodness of God in Our Lives

While I’ve tried to describe the closeness of this special evening together, there’s another blessing we hadn’t anticipated coming from our family tradition.

We can look back at earlier years and remember, oh yes, I’d almost forgotten what 2021 was like and that one’s struggle or this one’s deep longing. Now look at them, a few years later, sitting by their prayed-for-spouse or carrying this miracle of a child. Recall a victory over a season of darkness for this one and a new sense of peace for that anxious one.

And so we remember the goodness of God in our lives.

Not in a happily-ever-after way, but more of a reminder that God has carried us through deep waters and answered heartfelt prayers.

So, if you’re curious about the songs we’ve chosen over the years, I’ll close with a few lines from one of our favorites and the one my husband picked last year as “his song.”

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

And in the darkest night, You are close like no other

I’ve known You as a Father

I’ve known You as a Friend

And I have lived in the goodness of God.

And all my life, You have been faithful, oh

And all my life, You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

~ From Goodness of God by CeCe Winans

In His Word

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life. ~ Psalm 23:6a

He has made everything beautiful in its time. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:11a

In Your Life

I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but my experience is life can be a bit of a blur. So much comes at me, and even the seasons overlap, so I can hardly tell where one left off and another has begun. And I can even forget what all I’ve cried out to God because there’s always more to follow.

That’s one of the reasons I’ve found our Music Night to be such a gift. A song-filled record of where our family is at and what God has brought us through.

So, if your family is of an age and in a season where this might be a blessing to you, you might want to start your own tradition of a music night. You can also get creative and do something different, such as pick a hymn or worship song that best encapsulates that year for your family.

Nor does it have to be music; you can make a family journal (Etsy has some lovely personalized options!) and do something similar. Once or twice a year, you can gather and record your significant prayer requests, biggest blessings, and answers to prayer. What a beautiful gift to hand down to the next generation!

We Recommend

I’d hardly heard of Granger Smith until shortly before I read his book.  Nevertheless, I found it incredibly moving and inspiring and share it here, as it’s written by a well-known songwriter and musician.  Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward after Loss and Heartache by Granger Smith.  

I’d also recommend Lisa Appelo’s book, Life Can Be Good Again, if you’ve suffered loss or experienced grief. You can also follow her on Instagram for ongoing encouragement. I always appreciate what she has to share!

Let’s Connect

You can hear more from Lisa Jacobson on growing in faith and enjoying an everyday, joy-filled life here. You can also connect with Lisa on Instagram for biblical encouragement!