Dad’s Songs in My Brain

One of the most significant things about the relationship between Dad, music and me is the way that I “hear” Dad’s songs in my mind at various times. Most often, it’s a hymn.

I don’t actually hear an audible voice, of course (I’m not crazy, you know), but it is distinctly Dad’s voice playing on the tape. Thankfully, it’s not just me, LOL — Mom and Kim experience this phenomenon, as well.

Encouragement. Comfort. Peace. Those are words that describe what we often derive from this mutual experience. Like when I wake up in the middle of the night or early morning, when it’s really quiet, and the weight of some life issue is weighing heavy, a particular “random” song will pop into my mind.

Because so many of the songs are ones centered on Bibically-based themes, I/we have found that there is a real peace that often comes over me, in a relatively short period of time.

A Current Example

It happened just now (5:20am; June 21, 2020; Father’s Day). The song, Little is Much When God is In It, just appeared up there somewhere in one of my brain’s compartments, soon after waking.

What one song has been most meaningful for me, personally? “No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus” is probably the one that’s been the most consistent. The chorus goes like this:

No one ever cared for me, like Jesus.
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
Oh, how much He cares for me.

I can’t tell you the number of times that melody and those words, in Dad’s voice, have popped into my mind over the years. There has been real encouragement in that. And, real peace.

Not Just Nostalgia

It’s not just the nostalgia of it all, though. Yes, there is some there, for sure — I have to acknowledge that. But, there is also something deeper. Much deeper.

There’s a peace, derived from my relationship with God, that washes over me — the “no other friend” part of the song. My relationship with my Dad is a very real part of it.

The first verse starts, “I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus,” and that kind of covers it. It all starts there.

Father’s Day – Perfect Launch Day

It’s one of the things I am so thankful for … Dad loves Jesus. He has for the majority of his life, through all the ups and downs. While he may not have been the one to “formally” introduce me to Jesus, he did so in multiple other ways:

• His love for me as my Father
• His example of service to the church
• His introduction to Jesus through the music of Christendom
• His support in both my failures and my successes
• His compassionate heart for folks going through tough times

His love for the hymns, and the gospel message woven throughout those hymns, is a prime reason why today is a perfect day to launch this project.

That gospel message is still there, by the way!

Back to the Original Idea

This brings me back to the whole idea of Philip’s Playlist. Underlying drivers include: the power of music; the healing and therapeutic effects music provides; the respect and honor we have for Dad; the sharing of our experience with friends and family; the effect and influence that Dad’s relationship with music (especially Christian music) has had on each of us.

Little is much when God is a part of anything that happens on this planet. It may not always be visually evident. It may not lead to tons of worldly success or even be recognized as legitimate in our world.

We may never know what the “little” turns into. But, Dad included God for in his life for the vast majority of his 78 years, and that’s good enough reason for me to ask Him to be a part of Philip’s Playlist.

Sing the Song

In honor of Dad, on Father’s Day, I’d like to sing a bit of that song for you, in hopes that you’ll hear — really hear — the message of the song. Jesus cares for you. He desires to be the “friend like no other” that the song talks about.