Over the years, I've been in congregations that needed to replace their songbooks. Sometimes, it was done to provide access to new songs that were not in the old books. Often, because they were in such damaged condition, the old songbooks could not be sent on to smaller congregations that needed them. Let's suppose, for purposes of this article, that your song book could talk. What would it tell us? What advice would it offer? Let's consider some things it might say...

• Appreciate the fact that I contain spiritual songs that allow you to sing praises to God and edify one another. In order for people to sing the songs, they must see the words. Please don't write in me.
  
  
• Don't forget that money from the Lord's treasury was spent to purchase me. To be a good steward, you must keep me in good working order so many people can use me for many years to come.
  
  
• Don't allow your children to color in me or to tear out my pages to take home with them. Teach them to respect me, just as you teach them to respect the books in your own home.
  
  
• Use my center marker to mark the next song. Don't bend my pages ("dog ears" by folding down a corner). I would also appreciate it if you would not tie my markers in knots and pull them out of the book.
  
  
• Please do not allow your children to deposit their old chewing gum between my pages!
  
  
• Try not to throw me on the floor. Neither should you just "drag" me out of the rack. Over time, this will damage the hardback cover. Please lift me out carefully.
  
  
• If you take me home to practice some songs or for a singing, please remember to bring me back. That way, it will not be necessary for the church to buy new song books because so many have disappeared.
  
  

Songbooks are used at most of our services. Singing is an act of worship, a teaching tool for others, and edification for all who participate. Help the song leader by joining in the singing, and make it possible for others to join in by taking care of the hymn books. If you take good care of your songbooks-the songbooks might want to say "THANK YOU!" God's blessings have made it possible for us to have these books-let us do our part by using them respectfully so they will last for many years.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)