A family is the most dynamic, complicated living organism I know of. I feel like a broken record, for I write on this topic often. Clearly, it's the stuff my days are made of, so it's on my mind a lot.
Steve was out of town this past week. And, like a cue from backstage, our family falls a little bit apart when he's away. Nick was late for curfew. A whole hour late. Jacob admitted he wants to move to Arizona and live with his mom. Ellie regressed into wetting her panties and the babies were, well, babies.
I felt discouraged. And very tired. Shouldering this all, and the daily living of a family of six, made for hard, long days. My heart felt torn and mangled. Why would Nick just disregard a standard rule, especially when his 16th birthday is right on the horizon? Why is poor Jacob so confused, so sad, so angry?! Why does he think life would be better, happier, cooler, simpler, I-don't-know-what with a woman he, honestly, barely knows? The things he has admitted to doing there, the things he's admitted to seeing, saying, asking for are frightening and tragic. What have I done wrong? How have I failed to show him what real commitment, consistency and caring look like? And, why oh why, does this ALWAYS happen when Steve's away? I told a friend--it's like bad writing, it's so predictable.
And then I heard this song. I have always thought of it as a love song, for it definitely begins as one. But as I listened to its verses and chorus, I realized it could be sung as a fight song! It's a fight song in the spiritual warfare we are all waging for the preservation and protection of children, marriage and family. It is sung as an anthem for life, for beauty and for strength. Wow, I needed to hear this and I needed to hear it in a new way. Don't you have such great comedic timing, Lord!
I remember well the day we wed
I can see that picture in my head
I still believe the words we said
Forever will ring true
Love is certain, Love is kind
Love is yours and love is mine
But it isn't something that we find
It's something that we do
It's holding tight, It's lettin go
It's flying high and laying low
It lets your strongest feelings show
And your weakness too
It's a little and a lot to ask
An endless and a welcome task
Love isn't something that we have
It's something that we do
We help to make each other all that we can be
Though we can find our strength and inspiration independently
The way we work together is what sets our love apart
So closely that we can't tell where I end and where you start
It gives me heart remembering how
We started with a simple vow
There's so much to look back on now
And still it feels brand new
We're on a road that has no end
And each day we begin again
Love's not just something that we're in
It's something that we do
Love is wide, Love is long
Love is deep and Love is strong
Love is why I love this song
And I hope you love it too
I remember well the day we wed
I can see that picture in my head
Love isn't just those words we said
It's something that we do
There's no request
Too big or small
We give ourselves
We give our all
Love isn't some place that we fall...
It's something that we do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFas-cB9LG8
