Thought I’d go back to some sources I used to provide daily songs back in the day. I love NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts and their All Songs Considered section. Checked in and found they’d compiled a list of Top 20 songs for March. Scrolled through and found this song. After listening to it (and crying by the end), I had to look the artist up and find out some background on the song.
Mickey Guyton is beautiful. I was taken aback by the face that I saw at the top of the CMT article about this song. Once I got past that and read the article, I was also struck by her heart and conviction and soul in the song.
I have a granddaughter. She turns four this week. She is also beautiful. She has the sweetest, funniest spirit. She can be fierce though, thanks to three older brothers. She holds her own against them. I love that about her, that kindness, tempered with resolve, ready to take on those brothers and whoever else dares to get in her way. Sometimes that can be mamma and/or daddy, though, and it can be quite interesting to see how that plays out.
Ever since they were babies, I have said to each grandchild, “You know what?” The response would be, “What, Gaga?” I would say, “I love you.” Every time I saw them, I would repeat that. They would smile at me or say, “I know…” sheepishly. The two youngest have been the most fun. Rhett, when I ask him, responds, “You love me!” I reply, “That’s right!” Charis, today, actually asked me that question and when I said, “What?” She said, “I love you, grandma.” My heart beat a little faster… I do love them so.
I pray for my grandbabies, daily… prayers of protection and grace. I pray that they become strong individuals, tempered by kindness. I pray they be able to stand against the tides that would try to undermine their character. I pray for their mamma and daddy as they raise them to be those strong, kind individuals who love God and their neighbors.
I pray especially, though, for my granddaughter… prayers of protection and strength. They are prayers much like I prayed for my daughter, prayers that she would grow up strong, kind, loving, and knowing she was loved. That, I believe, is a powerful prayer. Knowing you are loved enables you to stand against many things that would tear a person down, especially a woman.
When I heard this song, I had a visceral reaction. I don’t want her to be wrong. I don’t want her to experience that betrayal and heartache. So I continue to pray! I pray she be spared, or at least the pain encountered be mitigated, that Grace would intercede. Prayer moves mountains. It reaches to the high heavens. And He hears! And He sees! His eye is on the sparrow. He hears this grandmother’s heartcry! And He responds! And that’s what I’m gonna tell her! She is Loved!
All Things Elda 