I love music.  I love the way emotion flows through harmony and symphony.  I cherish lyrics that tell a good story.  I relish a song that will move my soul and mark the moments of my life.

My husband, Eric, and I share “our song”.  It’s by Keith Whitley, called “When You Say Nothing At All”.  Is there a miraculous story behind how it became our song?  Well no, not really.  Once upon a time, years ago – but shortly after we began dating, we were talking and we thought we should have a song.  We just weren’t sure how a couple goes about picking a song.

Ask and you shall receive.  Within a 24 hour period we heard “When You Say Nothing At All” while we were riding in his truck, while we were having a conversation at my house and again when we were out for pizza.  In a little booth, in a little town, one simple young couple attached a deeper meaning to the song.  In doing so it earned a special place in both our hearts.

The greatest narrative is not in the song itself.  It’s not even in the way it became our song.  The paramount story is in our lives and what is held between the lines.

The tune opens, “It’s amazing how you can speak right to my heart.  Without saying a word, you can light up the dark”.  I think of all the times when Eric spoke hope into my heart without saying anything.  Those first romantic glances from a distance.  The tender new love growing through laughter and smiles.  The precious gentleness as the wedding band was slipped on my finger.  The arms of strength open as a place of solace when I felt as though I was a complete failure.  The gift of presence when I was seeped in loneliness.  Death, loss, fear, joy, love and hope.  So many unspoken words.

As the song continues one hears, “there’s a truth in your eyes saying you’ll never leave me”.  It is a marvelous blessing to have a love founded on the deep trust that there is no option to leave.  A covenant that I will not leave.  When the bills pile up and finances are thin, I will not leave.  When there is abundance and choices are available, I will not leave.  When you are sick and my responsibilities multiply, I will not leave.  When life turns out to be more complicated and filled when hurts, I will not leave you.

Oh, how the song flows through my heart and my memories.  Over and over again, replaying it and savoring it.

You can probably tell by my words, that I am an incurable romantic.  It’s how I am wired.  Long ago, I thought of myself as a hopeless romantic.  Then one day I was pondering the use of those two words together.  It seemed absurd that a romantic would be hopeless.  Romantics are overflowing with hope.  They hold on with all they have for it to work out in the end.

Being an incurable romantic has it’s faults.  I freely admit that the burning desire in my heart for romance has historically lead me to place some insanely unrealistic expectations upon my marriage.  This was a burden upon my husband and myself.  How does one live up to a heroic ideal?  One doesn’t.  No matter how you try.  Then what?

That’s when it was time for me to turn to the source of all love for help.  To God.  All love begins and flows from Him.  The God I knew growing up had strength and power, but was ever so distant from my life.  He looked down upon me.  Then I got to know Him in a much more personal way.  A closeness where he could speak to my heart.

Want a Bible verse that will speak to the heart of an incurable romantic…

“The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Who knew that God had a song in His heart?  Re-read those words with me, “He will take great delight in you”.  Run with wild imaginings my fellow incurable romantics, for you will never even come close to the love that God has for you.  He will paint you sunsets.  He will send you flowers.  He will listen.  He will speak.  He will offer comfort.  He will provide strength.  God will love you with His perfect love.

When we are filled with God’s love, the relationships in our lives will become stronger, more vibrant and even richer.  I can say this because I have seen it myself.  With God’s love I see Eric’s heart even better.  I see all the ways that Eric blesses me and loves me.  I find that I have fewer and fewer expectations of Him.  I also find that I have a growing faith and trust that God will be there in all of His perfection.

So I have a song in my heart now both for God and for Eric.

Dear Lord, thank you so very much for placing a song in my heart.  For all who come to You, please bless them as well with a song that will touch their hearts and souls with Your love.  Cherish them.  Treasure them.  Delight over them.  Thank you so much for delighting over me and for delighting over my husband.  Amen