Saturday: Picture Perfect?

If everything you knew about our Saturday was contained in these smiling pictures of our morning picnic in the White Tanks, you would be justified in thinking it consisted of an absolutely charming and idyllic day, a loving and joy-infused family outing.

That, however, would be a mistake.

The truth about Saturday was that there were grumpy attitudes, frustration, fighting, defiance, argumentative and oppositional behaviors, rage fits and meltdowns, almost the entire day long. The only reason we even went out for a burger at supper time was that the whole afternoon had been one long exhausting struggle with the kids, and I had nothing left in me to power through making, serving, and cleaning up dinner, on top of getting 7 kiddos showered and into bed with clothes ready for Sunday morning.

And yet, still God did not abandon us. He never does! By the end of supper, the hardness had begun to melt, there were loving apologies and forgive-yous, and on the way home, when Paul put this song on, the kids immediately started bouncing off the van walls, squealing with ear-piercing, pure, childish joy and enthusiastically singing along because it is one of their favorites. Someone shouted from the back, “Daddy! You’re gonna make mommy cry again!”

Nailed.It.

This song has double nostalgia for me.  When I hear these kids singing along, it takes me back to Westfork Church, where it all started, with the crazy-talented worship band of  Doug Surplus, Keith Costlan, Koos van Leeuwen, and Jeff Winkler playing praise music that had all those kids from the ‘hood sing-shouting along. And it also reminds me of the beautiful gift of faith handed down to my babies over the years as their grandma Pat rocked them to sleep singing her favorite hymn, Blessed Assurance.

All of these memories wrapped up together in this song remind me that our story is more than these long, hard, struggling days. It is divine grace, shining hope through the darkness; it is the kindness of Jesus.

If I told you my story
You would hear hope that wouldn’t let go
If I told you my story
You would hear love that never gave up
If I told you my story
You would hear life but it wasn’t mine

If I should speak then let it be

Of the grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in
To tell you my story is to tell of Him

If I told you my story
You would hear victory over the enemy
If told you my story
You would hear freedom that was won for me
If I told you my story
You would hear life overcome the grave

If I should speak then let it be

Of the grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in
To tell you my story is to tell of Him

This is my story this is my song praising my Savior all the day long

Publishing: © 2015 Word Music, LLC, Weave Country (ASCAP) / Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Open Hands Music (SESAC) (All rights on behalf of itself and Open Hands Music adm. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)
Writers: Mike Weaver / Jason Ingram