Wednesday, May 20, 2009

When I'm 64

I love the Beatles Song, “When I’m 64”. You know the one that starts out,

“When I get older losing my hair Many years from now
will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?"

And then in the Chorus the songwriter asks,

“Will you still need me, will you still feed me When I'm sixty-four?”

Later in the song, the writer tries to prove his worthiness, saying,

“I could be handy, mending a fuse When your lights have gone”

This song addresses a fear that many of us have, a fear of rejection by our loved ones. We worry if we lose our attractiveness or do or say something wrong that we may lose the affection of the people we care for.

Ironically, Paul McCartney, who wrote this song when he was in his 20’s, turned 64 in 2006, the same year his wife of 4 years filed for divorce. She was recently awarded $50 million in alimony and child support.

Paul’s not alone, he’s now part of the 25% of the adult population that has experienced a divorce in their lifetime. Human love is indeed fickle.

Thankfully there is One whose love never runs out, never dries up and never leaves us for someone younger, richer or better looking. God’s love is eternal, it cannot be earned nor can it be taken away.

The first verse of Psalm 136 puts it plainly, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

We’re also told use God’s love as an example for the way we love each other.

1 John 4: 7-9 explains it perfectly:

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”

Pray that God will help you experience His love for you and for others in a real way today. And, take some time to thank Him for His gifts of unconditional love and everlasting life.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Cinderella

It's hard to believe that its been a year since the accidental death of Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest daughter, Maria. I don’t know this family personally but when I heard the news of her loss, I found myself grieving right alongside the Champans.

Ironically, Steven’s song, “Cinderella” had just hit the airwaves before the accident. "Cinderella" is a song about a father taking time out of his busy day to spend time with his little girl. The father in the song realizes that he doesn’t have forever with his child…so he makes the most of the moment to dance with his little girl.

The lyrics of this song took on a new, haunting meaning in light of the events surrounding aria's death. In the song, the little girl pretending to be a princess becomes a teenager getting ready for the prom and then a young bride preparing for her wedding day. The Chapman family’s website reported that the accident that took their young daughter’s life happened “just hours after the family celebrated the engagement of their oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and just hours before a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman's completion of high school."

The one year anniversary of the Chapman's tragedy has, once again, reminded me that I really take the time I have with my children for granted. Mom and Dad...let's remember to hug our children extra hard as we send them off to school or daycare today. We need to appreciate every moment we have. They are only ours for a time. Eventually, they will grow up and walk their own path…write their own story. And, as the Chapman family knows all too well, even tomorrow is not a guarantee.

I know that time is limited, energy is drained, houses are dirty, yards need to be mowed, and dinner needs to be on the table. But, how important are those things really when compared to precious, irreplaceable moments with your children? So, I’ll dance with Cinderella while she is here in my arms….I don't wanna miss even one song, Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight and she'll be gone.


Learn more about the Champans and their organization, "Show Hope" by clicking here.