Because you Loved Me (Again)

Last night we enjoyed a Rob Houchen concert. Rob’s a local boy who went to drama school and then played Marius in Les Misérables in the West End when he was just 22. He’s played in many productions since… but occasionally he returns to his friends and family in Lowestoft, and The Seagull Theatre where it all started for him. Rob started his show with this great Celine Dion song:

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I’ll be forever thankful, baby
You’re the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You’re the one who saw me through, through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice whеn I couldn’t speak
You were my еyes when I couldn’t see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach
You gave me faith ’cause you believed
I’m everything I am
Because you loved me

It’s a song that expresses a practical love that is consistent and persistent, reminding me of folk in my life whose love is loyal, supporting me through tough times, accepting me when I’ve got it wrong. It encourages me to be loving, speaking out for the voiceless, reaching out to the falling and failing… seeing the best in them, believing in them.

It’s a song that expresses my faith in a loving God who relates to me personally, intimately, and is there for me at all times bringing strength, insight and joy. This God sees the best in me and wants the best for me, believing in me when no-one else (especially me!) does… giving me the strength and inspiration to love others.  

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark, shining your love into my life
You’ve been my inspiration
Through the lies, you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

This morning I was reading Matthew’s gospel…. The disciples are in a boat battling against the wind and the waves. Jesus walks to the disciples on the water. Peter tries to do water-walking, initially succeeds; when he starts to sink Jesus saves him from potential drowning.

I like to imagine that Peter could have sung these words about his Lord. He knew a Jesus who loved and supported him through amazing successes and dramatic failures… I’m encouraged to personalise these words again for me as a grateful prayer.
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn’t speak
You were my eyes when I couldn’t see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach
You gave me faith ’cause you believed
I’m everything I am
Because you loved me