Song Saturday #7

The way I see it, getting good advice is like purchasing a bathroom plunger.

Most of the time it just sits around, unused. You're not particularly attached to it. You don't even notice it most of the time. But when you really need it, nothing else will do - especially during particularly crappy situations. (Pun totally intended).

When I heard this song for the first time, all I could think about were the countless times I received advice from friends and family members.

I thought about my mom saying to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. I thought about her telling me to never buy cheap shoes or a cheap mattress, because you'd regret it for a long time. "A star shines no matter where you put it," she told me confidently. Because of her constant encouragement and love, I always felt like a star.

I thought about my grandmother telling me to enjoy being young, because time goes by in the blink of an eye. I hear her voice telling me not to worry about eating another helping of hashbrown casserole or another homemade biscuit. When I put my feet under her table, I never count calories. And let me tell you something, I'm glad I don't.

I think about my pastor telling me that one sign of maturity is knowing the difference between "no" and "not yet." I remember another sermon I heard on leaving margins in your life, leaving time and space for God to do work instead of scheduling out every second of every day. I remember the feeling of relief when Phil told us that it was okay to have quiet time any time of day - that it didn't have to be in the morning for it to count.

I remember my guitar teacher responding to my complaint that I didn't have time to file my nails every day. (This was when I was thick in the middle of my classical guitar studies). "Do you have time to brush your teeth every day?" he asked. "Then you have time to file your nails." He taught me that you make time for what is important.

If you sat and thought about it for awhile, I'm sure you'd hear voices too. What are they telling you today?

Now I know:
I'm pretty dang lucky for all that good advice.




Voices
You could say I'm a little bit crazy
You could call me insane
Walkin' 'round with all these whispers
Runnin' 'round here in my brain
I just can't help but hear 'em
Man, I can't avoid it

I hear voices
I hear voices like
My dad sayin' work that job
But don't work your life away
Mama tellin' me to drop some cash
In the offering plate on Sunday
And granddad sayin' you can have a few
But don't ever cross that line
Yeah I hear voices all the time

Turns out I'm pretty dang lucky
For all that good advice
Those hard to find words of wisdom
Holed up here in my mind
And just when I've lost my way
Or I got to many choices

I hear voices
I hear voices like
My dad sayin' quit the team
And you'll be a quitter for the rest of your life
Mama tellin' me to say a prayer
Every time I lay down at night
And grandma sayin' if you find the one
You'd better treat her right
Yeah, I hear voices all the time

Sometimes I try to ignore 'em
But I thank God for 'em
'Cause they made me who I am

My dad sayin' work that job
But don't work your life away
Mama tellin' me to drop some cash
In the offering plate on Sunday
And granddad sayin' you can have a few
But don't ever cross that line
Yeah I hear voices all the time
Yeah I hear voices all the time
All the time