Thursday, June 6, 2013

Untied Shoestring

I wanted to write a song in an AABA song form..one I don't write in too often.  It's always refreshing to mix up my writing. This song was influenced by a group of women that I pray with.  We pray into many issues including marriage...this song is liquid prayer and a hearts cry that there would be strong marriages in our community, nation and world for God's glory to be displayed. Sooo here's a little ditty called Untied Shoestring.  Needs a melody... I hear a folksy tune mixed with strings oooya!

We are still laced together in this tennis shoe
We have walked in the valley barely made it through
Your end was flying mine was too
Untied shoestring

We are still laced together in this tennis shoe
Worn and tattered now what do we do
We get tripped up but choose to move on
Untied shoestring

We are one
We are not giving up
We are one
This battle to love is worth fighting for

Remember when we used to have a double knot
Nothing could come between us we were solid as a rock
We have slowly unraveled those days are not forgotten
Untied shoestring

We are one
We are not giving up
We are one
This battle to love is worth fighting for

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Pick Out a Red One

Pick Out a Red One...

I am continuing to interview people to hear their stories about their journey of healing and writing a song about it.  My aunt's experience with MS began when she was 26...now in her early 70's with a recent cancer diagnosis...  She shared her dream of becoming an artist, the loss of her health, advise she'd give others.  She's a woman of prayer, wit, and genuinely cares about what is going on in others' lives.  I weep, pray, and celebrate her life...and her story through song.

As I was walking up the stairs to her house, I noticed the bright, tulips that were not opened up because it was too cold outside.  As I opened the door I told her about the tulips in her front yard.  She asked if I’d go pick a red one and then went on about picking the other colors I mentioned since she is too weak to get out.  So I did. As she was sharing, I was taken away by the vase of tulips that were opened up so wide.  It was as if God was saying there is life in her heart that’s unfolding as she shares memories and stories that have lied dormant and never had a listening ear. Someday I believe she’ll be up in heaven painting and drawing in her favorite colors…blues, NOT red red but a roseish red,and soft yellow…and picking tulips because she will be able to. This a treasured memory I will never forget!

Pick Out a Red One
 
It was the fourth of May the snow just melted
nothing but gray and a patch of color
took my breath away oh how I longed to pick
the tulips in her front yard
the tulips in her front yard

Then I knocked at her door she said come in
Put my purse on the floor I said your flowers are growing
It started to pour so I ran to pick
the tulips in her front yard

Chorus:
She yelled
Pick out a red one
A yellow one too
How many are there
Are they in bloom
There is a tall vase
in the living room
Pick out a red one, pale pink, purple,
orange one too

Something divine was orchestrated
The flowers made her smile as they were opening
I took it as a sign God was speaking through
the tulips from her front yard
the tulips from her front yard

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:
She was weak and tired cancer kept her in
she couldn’t get outdoors but wanted more and more ..she said
Repeat Chorus

Above is a piece of artwork that was created right before my aunt passed away.  She picked out colors that she liked and I painted.  I was reading Psalm 23 to her.  The artwork is a depiction of that Psalm.  I treasured moment I will never forget. Her eyes lit up when she saw the bucket of acrylic paints...she got to partake in the process of creating a piece of artwork. Now she is in heaven painting with the great artist himself!