The Impact of Lyrics

This week seems to be "annoy Mom as much as we can and let's see how far we can push her before she blows!"  Well, I have blown up more times than even I can handle. 

Here are some examples:

One too many toddler temper tantrums...and I don't put "temper" lightly with this child.  When B is mad, he is m.a.d.!  (keep in mind, he's only 2)  His tantrums involve throwing/chucking things and hitting (which is more like a smack, you know the hit that kind of burns afterwards).  And during his fits, he has the strength of a gorilla...he is a fierce, angry albino gorilla.  I'm finally starting to seek advice through research on this one, I've tried everything and am at a loss.  He is sooooo different from his older brother, which brings me to my next example...

Vomit.  With this child, C, I have had my fair share of dealing with throw up.  From backseat emesis to public episodes that cause pure mortification to surprise mid-night wake ups of being covered in warm nastiness (both him and me).  Over the years, it has decreased a lot.  However, since this was "hell week for mom,"  he decided to perform another routine while at the dinner table after eating a piece of roast (that he so wonderfully dubbed "Woolly Mammoth hair" before taking a bite). And as if cleaning up vomit just after consuming a plate full of dinner wasn't enough, his brother threw in the side performance of one of his oh so lovely gorilla tantrums...awesome!

So, needless to say, my children have been renamed "heathens" for the week.  (Don't you dare judge me!) 

But today something changed my view of thinking for 4 minutes and 42 seconds.  A song.  A song that has a powerful hold on my subconscious forever.  As I was getting ready for the day, the 2 heathens were in front of me fighting over a Hungry, Hungry Hippo game; when all of a sudden, their words and actions were replaced with visions of white light, wings, and halos.   (They looked like sweet, innocent angels if you didn't grasp my picture)  The metamorphosis began with the music of "Godspeed" by the Dixie Chicks.  See, when I first heard that song I immediately thought how sweet of a song about a son.  And then when I later found out I was pregnant with a boy, I was drawn back to the song.  I listened to it a lot when I was pregnant, daydreaming of the growing baby inside of me.  I would even do the whole tv thing and put headphones on my belly playing that song.  Then when C was a newborn, I would sing it to him, and again when he was a toddler refusing to sleep (it would always seem to calm him down). I never really thought about the impact a song can have over me. 

One of the lyrics that has always stuck out to me is, "God hears 'amen' where ever we are."  It has definitely made an impact on my life.  Especially for my boys because I want them to know that no matter what life brings you, you are never alone; God is always there and He has a plan for you. 

Later in the day I began to think of other song lyrics that have had a lasting impression on me. My senior quote in our yearbook was "It's not where but who you are with that really matters" from Dave Matthews Band's "Best of What's Around" song.  At seventeen years old, I hadn't quite experienced what that lyric meant. It was almost like a presage into the future because my adult life has been based on that quote, particularly in this military lifestyle.  It applies so much to me because no matter where in the world I am or the conditions I am in, if I am with those that I love, it's all that truly matters. 

I know I probably went off on a wild tangent.  This all made sense in my head.  But I guess what I am trying to convey is the intensity a song can hold.  It can hold memories, change your mood, cause you to look from another perspective, give you hope, etc.  After all, one song today changed my whole week!!  They may have been heathens, but they're my little blessings.