I Love…

I was listening today to a replay of the old American Top 40 Broadcasts from the 70’s on Sirius/XM satellite radio with the beloved Casey Kasem who hosted the show every weekend. Those of us who remember that era also recognize Casey’s familiar voice as that of Shaggy on the Scooby-Doo cartoons. I loved these countdown shows and listened to them faithfully because I wanted to know exactly where my favorite artists and records were landing in popularity!
Today Casey reminded me of a classic country song that was super hit record number 15 on this February day back in 1974. I was in 8th Grade at the time and a regular listener to 1050 Country WHN out of New York City because that was the station that was broadcasting the New York Mets games at the time. So when the Mets weren’t on, I got hooked on the likes of Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Charlie Rich, and a man named Tom T. Hall. It was Hall’s record “I Love,” that had crossed over to the Pop Charts and was enjoying national success because of it. The lyrics were beautiful in their simplicity and when I heard it today, I began to tear up. Many times life’s greatest treasures come in the plainest packages.
The lyrics go something like this, “I love honest open smiles, kisses from a child, tomatoes on a vine and onions. I love winners when they cry, losers when they try, music when it’s good and life. And I love you too.” It got me thinking of all the many beautiful blessings that God has showered into my life through the years. And one of the easiest for me to name is the gift God gave me in my wife Terri who just happens to be celebrating her birthday as I write this. She is still as lovely today and I cherish her more even now than I did the first time ever I saw her face!
As a matter of fact, at a wedding that I officiated and Terri and I attended together yesterday, it turned out that the DJ brought all the married couples on to the dance floor. I am not the easiest individual in the world to get to dance. If I have an area of my life where I am overwhelmingly self-conscious – it is when I am dancing. So I don’t do it! I did not dance at the record hops growing up. I did not dance at my Senior Prom. I did not even dance at my own wedding! And now, here I was gliding with my bride in front of everybody. Before I could run for the exit, I was involved in a contest to see what couple out there was married the longest! One by one the other participant’s slowly disappeared and believe it or not, Terri and I were left in the spotlight having won the game with 32 years together and counting. I wouldn’t have been out there with anybody else! I was glad that I did not have to be.
Happy Birthday Terri! You are the beauty that keeps this beast going! I could not imagine finding my way in this world without my wife. God said that it was not good for me to be alone because He knew what kind of mess I would make so the Lord gave me His absolute best to walk this adventure together with! Terri is an amazing woman with more God given talent than I know that she will ever take the credit for. She is truly humble and a real servant. She looks to stay behind the scenes to do her thing but I know that there would be no scenes at all to enjoy if she was not working so diligently to make everything a huge success. I want to make sure that everybody knows that The Lighthouse Church is the success it is because God put Terri on the team. She keeps the ball rolling and things moving in the right direction and neither one of us could do it without her! And I love her too! And even though love couldn’t quite keep the Captain and Tennille together, so far so good with the two of us!
So maybe today is a good day to remind the someone that you love that you still love them. Love should never be what is going without saying. Love should be shouted, celebrated, marinated and activated early and often! Love should not be taken for granted. Love should not be hidden in the bottom drawer. Love should not be saved for a rainy day. Love is what we need more of every day. So who can you tell and who can you share a random act of unconditional kindness with today? Don’t wait until it is too late and don’t let your pride stubbornly stand in the way. Take down the barriers and be a bridge to positive relational connections that will honor God’s never failing convictions! And I love you too.
So who do you love? What do you love? Thanks Tom T. Hall for making me reflect today. And here’s a list before I go just to prime the pump of gratitude in your own world. And I pray love will fill your heart so that discontent and a bitter spirit can’t suffocate your soul?
“I love snowy winter days, baseball games to play, singing songs at night and flight! I love pizza when it’s hot, Pepsi when it’s not, laughing with my son and fun! And I love you too…”