Your Theme Song

When passing a young man in our high school the other day, I noticed his ear phones and that his walk had a certain strut to it. Smiling, I said to him, "It must be good." 

Grinning back, he said, "It is. It's my theme song." As he kept walking on to class, he turned back over his shoulder and said, "I have a different one everyday." I happily chuckled at his cheerfulness and walked merrily along reflecting on my own songs of life.

I can't remember my first theme song, it might have been something by The Bangles or Bananarama, or "Jesus loves me" or "Tis a Gift to Be Simple," but I do remember finding encouragement through my 20's by singing Phil Collin's version of "You Can't Hurry Love" at the top of my lungs with the windows down as I drove through young adult life.

Sting's "Desert Rose" helped me close out the 90's, and Enya's "Only Time" was a go to for centering. 

I can't quite put my thumb on this chapter's theme song, but I certainly have a love for certain lyrics and music that remind me of those whom I cherish. I suppose I'm living through their theme songs now, too.

If Europe's "Final Count Down" comes on, you can bet my son will be rocking out. Each time I hear Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years," I can't help but tear up a bit at how thankful I am for my husband, and my daughter and I share a great love for Tim McGraw's "Be Humble and Kind" words to live by.

Whether you are floating in sadness and need the comfort of Julia Brennan's "Inner Demons" or are just ready to "Shut Up and Dance" with Walk the Moon, give yourself the gift of a theme song. They will heal you, inspire you, comfort you, energize you, and help you through the chapters of your life. They can strengthen you when you are alone and bring you into community with others when you are ready.

Find your theme song for the day, for the month, for the year, for what you need now and set it to repeat!

Thank God for great song lyrics and the artists that bring them into our lives with the emotional comfort and inspiration that can be found within their music.

With love and light,

LT

Beast of Burden

That donkey, that donkey, that sweet little donkey has been on my mind for many weeks now. That donkey, that donkey, who carried His burden has brought me closer to God.

He already knew. He knew what was coming, but thank God He was granted this gift. A moment of rest, a reminder of care as His journey was unfolding before Him. He wasn’t alone; that donkey, that donkey, that support that awaited his arrival. That donkey, that donkey, that little beast of burden took on the weight of Jesus and carried him through. He gave Him that moment to take in the cheers to take in the love of the children. When Jesus moved towards that valley alone, no, the donkey was there to carry Him.

Years before another young person was carried towards a new beginning, this time, a young woman who said yes. When she finally became so heavy with life and could not walk on her own, there was that donkey that helped her to a stable where joy was revealed.

So again we find ourselves years later, after saying many wonderful things and doing many wonderful deeds, this woman’s son also riding a gentle donkey towards another powerful chapter in His life and ours. It is the Wednesday before Maundy Thursday, the last supper begins, and Jesus has what he needs.

This Holy Week, I give thanks for the donkey, the reminder we’re never alone. When we feel the most alone through our trials and tribulations, remember like Jesus, there was the donkey. The donkey, the beast of burden.

I leave you today with love and light and this poem that has been with me since I was a teenager. LT

Footprints in the Sand

By Mary Stevenson, 1936

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”