Yes, I listen to (some) Christian music

I was raised Catholic. My mother was raised Catholic. My father was raised a Presbyterian, but converted shortly after my parents were married. He did it in secret, to surprise my mom. It was an amazing gesture of love and commitment. I no longer attend Catholic mass regularly, but I do attend church with my husband. I never really listened to Christian music before I met him, but he's introduced me to some really cool bands, and these really cool bands have gotten me through some of the toughest times in my life.



Not too far from my house, there is a festival every year called Alive. It is a 4 day festival of Christian music geared toward families, teenagers, and young adults. I've never made it there, until yesterday. I gotta say, though, that it was REALLY amazing. There was one point where, during the last band of the night(Casting Crowns), the lead singer asked all the girls/women in the audience to sing a song, and then asked all the boys/men in the audience to sing. If you've never heard hundreds (yes, hundreds) of men sing in unison before, you're missing something amazing.

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At the concert, one of my FAVORITE new artists, Brandon Heath, played for a really small crowd. It was way cool. Of course, I was completely smitten (I have a tendency to develop crushes on men with amazing singing voices-i.e. http://www.jarsofclay.com/)and I wanted to meet him. I didn't want to go up alone-because I'm a dork like that- so I made my sisters go up with me. My sister, Em-who had never heard of him until right before he started to sing, decided to buy a frisby for him to sign, because it would be cool. We get up there and I am AMPED to meet this guy.... apparently he's more amped me meet my sister than me. The conversation goes something like this



Brandon Heath (turning towards Em): Hi! nice to meet you! Can I sign your frisby? What's your name?



Em (being her stupid adorable self): Em---



Me: I just have to let you know that your songs are amazing and got me through some pretty tough times (goes on to tell him a super cool story. Meanwhile, he signs my cell phone- I wanted to try to be memorable)



BH: Really? That's nice. It was really great to meet you, Em (he hugs her.) You girls enjoy the rest of your day.


Ummmmmmm really? Yeah. That kind of crap happens a lot. Stupid Em. (I love you, my sister!)

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I'm going to end this on a really sad, but thought provoking, note. I don't know if any of you have heard of the singer Steven Curtis Chapman
but he's really popular in the Christian music sect. He has a bunch of kids... some of them adopted from China, I think. Recently, at a graduation party for his son, his youngest daughter, Maria, was hit by a car, driven by one of his sons, in their own driveway and killed. I can't imagine the emotions that are going through these people right now. Not only did they lose a daughter, but they have their son to blame for it. It was an accident, but there still has to be some resentment there, I would think. At the same time, it's their SON. He's no less of a part of them than their little girl. Can you IMAGINE?! My heart breaks every time I think of this.



It's so easy, during the day to day, to forget how important family relationships are. Even for those of us desperately trying to start a family of our own sometimes forget exactly what we're working towards. It gets lost in every heartache, and every negative pregnancy test, and every bitter thought that we experience on the journey. Please, in honor of this lost life, hold close and cherish every moment that you have with every single person in your family. You never know when it could be your last.



Not too long ago, Steven Curtis Chapman released a song called Cinderella that he wrote for and dedicated to Maria. The lyrics are SO ironic and heartbreaking that it brings me to tears to hear them.

Cinderella

Steven Curtis Chapman



She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders



It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you



There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"



So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...



She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of her dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"



So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ooh-oh ooh-oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone



She will be gone



Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"



So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ooh-oh ooh-oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone