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The Gift of a Voice – Welcoming Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin to the Morning Light Home
Not long after the home was filled with the sounds of the live jazz band for William, another gift of music arrived—this time a little more intimate and just as powerful.
We had the honor of welcoming Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin to the Morning Light Home. A gifted vocalist known for her expressive performances and deep connection to the music she shares, Sarah brought something truly special with her that day. Sarah is a world-class performer, songwriter, and worship leader whose music has taken her around the globe. Her soulful, eclectic sound combines a rich tapestry of influences, including her classical and jazz training, along with a broad spectrum of experiences in gospel, pop, and country music.
William’s life has been shaped by music too, from his early days playing jazz drums in New Orleans to his years continuing that passion in California. This was a reminder of what being a musician has meant to him and how it unites people, whatever stage of life they are on or living through.
There’s something about live music, especially when it’s offered so personally. For a little while, everything else falls away. Sarah’s songs and good humor were incredibly powerful. We all had to pinch ourselves that she was singing in that moment just a few feet away, music that could have filled a concert hall.
The sound carried through the home, inviting others into the moment, residents, staff, and volunteers all pausing in their day to listen. We are so grateful to Sarah for taking the time to come and do a private performance for William.
At Morning Light, our Making Memories program is about bringing wishes to life, but often it becomes something more than that, as different groups from across the city and state come together to support a fellow traveler in need.
What’s so moving about these wishes coming true is that most of the time, those who answer the call are doing so for a complete stranger. Perhaps there is something universal about knowing someone is nearing the end on a path that we all will have to tread in our own good time that leads so much goodwill to pour forth. The stars align, and the magic seems to manifest every time we push out the boat on another moment to remember.
This is the heart of Making Memories.
Not just the fulfillment of a wish, but for William, it was another chapter in a life filled with music.
For all of us, it was a reminder of what can happen when kindness, talent, and intention come together.
We are so grateful to Sarah for sharing her voice, her time, and her heart with William and the Morning Light Home.
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