Finding my inner warrior

One of the things I find hard to do is speak up for what I believe in.

Even if it's for a worthy cause, there's still that initial apprehension and anxiety over what to say and how it will be received by the other person. Will they get my point of view? Will they think I'm being difficult? (The people pleaser in me cringes at the thought of displeasing anyone.)

Yesterday, I found my voice, and spoke to my daughter's drum teacher about a song choice she'd made for my daughter's upcoming public performance.

Now I do enjoy some of the latest music by Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeren and Pink. I even know - and like - Little Mix's new song Wings. It's girl power in a wholesome way.

But I draw the line at ear-blasting raunchy music and lyrics that proudly purvey values in conflict with my Christian faith.

The last time, I objected to my daughter playing Highway to Hell.

This time, thanks to my daughter informing me of the lyrics of Bruno Mars' Locked Out of Heaven, I told the teacher I did not think that was an appropriate song choice.

Her straight-out unfiltered response, "Not again!"

Like I was being a difficult mum or something.

I told her very politely that I could see how as a drummer, her focus would be on the beat and rhythm of the song, but when my daughter plays it publicly, people are going to notice mostly the lyrics. And lyrics like these are definitely not on.

...But swimming in your water* is something spiritual
Ooh!
I'm born again every time you spend the night
Ooh!
'Cause your sex takes me to paradise
Yeah, your sex takes me to paradise
And it shows, yeah, yeah, yeah
'Cause you make me feel like I've been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long
Yeah, you make me feel like I've been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long

... You bring me to my knees, you make me testify
You can make a sinner change his ways
Open up your gates 'cause I can't wait to see the light
And right there is where I wanna stay

I didn't say this to her, as I don't know where she stands in matters of faith, but the way the lyrics attribute to the singer's lover the divine characteristics of God through the joy of intercourse, is offensive. It makes a mockery of the God who sent His only Son to die for my sins. I will not stand quietly by while my 11-year-old plays such rubbish in a public place which includes other families with impressionable young children. What kind of values would we be endorsing?

My daughter had a song ready to propose to the teacher - Wings by Little Mix. So the teacher worked out the beat for her, and that's what she'll practise. Even if she doesn't make it in time for the end-of-term performance, that's okay. We've both made our message clear and we hope something positive and valuable has been learned by everyone in the process.