The Rat Pack

I've had this favorite song for a while now, and I felt compelled to blog about it because it stirs my heart each time I hear it. I find myself hoping it will be the next song played on the radio, or looking it up on YouTube just to hear it. It's called "What Love Really Means" by J.J. Heller. I love it for three main reasons:

Reason #1

"He cries in the corner where nobody sees
He’s the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, “Dear God won’t you please
Could you send someone here who will love me?”

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means"

This first part of the song reminds me of my students. Luckily, they all have great families who love them, but so many people in the world don't because they are different. It breaks my heart, and makes me angry, to see the looks and snickers my kids get from other kids in the school. Then, I see those same looks from adults and think to myself "no wonder kids make fun of them at school, adults don't even understand." I love this part of the song because it reminds me of how I feel about my kids. I love them unconditionally. They can make me angry, make me cry, even hurt me sometimes but I still love them. They have some of the greatest personalities, and give love so freely. I vow to love my students for who they are, not for what they do or what they may become someday. Let's face it, none of my kids are going to grow up to be doctors or astronauts, but I will love them because of the amazing kids they are.

Reason #2

Those same lines make me think of adopting a kid one day. It has always been something that has been on my heart of wanting to do. I think about maybe one day God leading Reagan and I to love a kid as our own, and it makes me smile. To think we may be able to show this child what love really means and lead him/her to the love of God is such a powerful thing. I pray God entrusts us with as great of a calling as that one day.

Reason #3 (and most important)

It is a song of God's amazing grace. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The song ends like this...

"He’s waiting to die as he sits all alone
He’s a man in a cell who regrets what he’s done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
“Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home”

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said “I know you’ve murdered and I know you’ve lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...”

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew"

To think that each one of us has turned our backs on God, and that He is sitting there waiting for us to cry out for forgiveness, so that he can respond to us in this way is completely amazing. He loves us for us, not for what we've done in the past, or what we will become one day. It is the greatest love you could ever know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGUKWiw7Wk&NR=1