Have you heard this song sung by Eric Church?
I’m a long gone Waylon song on vinyl
I’m a back row sinner at a tent revival,
She believes in me like she believes her bible,
And loves me like Jesus does.
I’m a lead foot leaning on a souped-up Chevy,
I’m a good old boy, drinking whiskey and rye on the levee,
But she carries me, when my sins make me heavy,
And loves me like Jesus does.
All the crazy in my dreams,
Both my broken wings,
Every single piece of who I am,
Yeah, she knows the man I ain’t,
She forgives me when I can’t,
And the devil, man, no he don’t have a prayer,
Cause she loves me like Jesus does.
Always thought she’d give up on me one day,
Wash her hands of me, leave me staring down some runway,
Yeah, I thank God each night, and twice on Sunday,
That she loves me like Jesus does.
All the crazy in my dreams,
Both my broken wings,
Every single piece of who I am,
Yeah, she knows the man I ain’t,
She forgives me when I can’t,
And the devil, man, he don’t stand a chance,
Cause she loves me like Jesus does.
Yeah, she knows the man I ain’t,
She forgives me when I can’t,
And the devil, man, no he don’t have a prayer,
Cause she loves me like Jesus does.
I’m a long gone Waylon song on vinyl...
http://www.songonlyrics.com/eric-church-like-jesus-does-lyrics#ixzz2SVbCLiF7
I first heard this on Easter morning (how appropriate!) as I sped off to join my family at the 9 am service. We were in separate cars because I had stayed behind to clean up the disgusting mess in the bathroom and then tried to make myself presentable for the holiday. Understandably, I was feeling a bit like Cinderella in the first half of her story. But as soon as I heard the first verse of this country song, my focus shifted from feeling sorry for myself to thinking about the kind of parent I want my younger son to have.
I say my "younger son" because Henry has never met a rule he didn't follow. He and I are cut from the same cloth. We're pleasers. Sure, Henry tests the waters now and again but what child doesn't? Liam, however, doesn't just test the waters, he splashes around the deep end dumping icy buckets of it over my head. When he was four months old we locked horns over who could hold the tv remote (I'm not kidding you!) and there's scarcely been a day since that he's not tried to bend a rule until it's broken into tiny bits and we're both crying.
Well, after hearing this song, I decided right there and then to stop lamenting the struggles. Liam is who he is. I cannot change his tenaciousness. I can lay down the rules. I can give him consequences. I can provide structure and support. All of that is important and necessary. But not as important as a mother's love. My new goal is for Liam to know, now and twenty years from now, that he is loved unconditionally. I want to be the person who is always in his corner. Even when he is in a time out.
Oh I love this. I can imagine it'll be a hard thing to stick to over the years, but I bet you'll both be happier because of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm book marking this post in case I find myself in a similar situation in a few years! :)
This is a really great post. I really agree that the most important thing is that our kids know they are loved unconditionally.
ReplyDeleteI also think it's ok for us to make mistakes, to not always have to be a perfect parent. I just make sure that if I do mess up, that I apologize to Fiona, point out where I could have done better, and tell her I will try not to make the same mistakes. My mom would never admit being wrong and it alienated me - I'm trying not to repeat that but also giving myself a break and not expecting myself to be a perfect parent all of the time.
You have hit the nail on the head. So well said too about being in his corner even when he's in trouble. That's what counts, him knowing you love him
ReplyDeleteAs I enter into having my second, and a boy at that, I try to tell myself that there will be no comparing my two and letting each one be an individual. But SR is also very much a pleaser like her mom (with the occasional defiance). I know that baby boy may be completely different. I love your post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this posting! I am going to check them out as a group.. LOVE is the most important thing and just accepting As Is.. Oh yes and picking the battles.. LOL
ReplyDelete