(Sample) WEEK #44 SONGS OF BLESSING AND HOPEFULNESS

Author

Lisa Peterson
October 26, 2025

Week #44

Songs of Blessing and Hopefulness

This is week 44 of the year and we will be celebrating Songs of Blessing and Hopefulness, by delving into the songs and applying concepts to create more joy and connection during caregiving routines with music.

The songs are:

  • All Through the Night

  • Always

  • Amazing Grace

  • Count Your Blessings

  • Glow Worm

  • He’s Got the Whole World

  • Hymn of Joy, The

  • I’ve Got Peace Like a River

  • Lift Every Voice and Sing

  • Shalom Chaverim

  • Simple Gifts

  • We Shall Overcome

  • Whispering Hope

SING ALONG

Featured Song

SIMPLE GIFTS

“Simple Gifts” is a Shaker hymn likely written by Joseph Brackett in 1848. The Shakers were a Christian sect in the late 1700s into the mid-1800s that espoused a communal lifestyle, equality of the sexes, pacifism, and charismatic worship. “Simple Gifts” is intended to be a quick dancing song. The song became more famous after composer Aaron Copland used the melody for the ballet Appalachian Spring in 1944.

  • Is this melody familiar to you?

  • Are the words familiar?

  • Did you find yourself humming along?

  • How did it affect you? Did your awareness change? Your breath? Your focus? Your mood?

  • Would you feel comfortable playing this in the background and allow yourself to hum or sing along? By yourself and/or with the one(s) you care for?

Simple Gifts Here is Yo Yo Ma and Alison Kraus’ unique version of Simple Gifts. I hope you enjoy it!

Creative Ideas

HOW TO USE THE MUSIC

  • Try humming or singing along with the provided recording, or one of your choosing for increased feeling of ______.

  • Listen to a recording to create a shared experience.

  • Listen while engaged in daily routines, to add a feeling of familiarity and comfort (if the song is known and loved)

  • Try reminiscing with the song history, or singers of the song. Look at pictures famous singers who performed the song.

SELF-CARE TIPS

Gaze at Something Pleasing!

  • find pictures that you find beautiful

  • find pictures of people that you love

  • find pictures that make you smile

  • Look at these every day!

  • Looking at pleasing pictures i, yet powerful practice that can lead to feelings of peace, pleasure and happiness!

Share if you have any self-care tips or stories from this week at [email protected] 
Pink toned thoughts on a hike — Everything comes in waves, even mountains.
The white blossoms began to come out just the day spring was coming. It is possible to see how some petals began to fall
What are you doing there? :-)

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