I LOVE romance. Movies, music, and musicals, I love them all! Mother tells the story that when I was less than a year old, The Music Man was shown on TV. This was years before TIVO or even VHS. There was no owning of movies back then. When a movie came on TV that you wanted to see, you made time. You must understand that this movie is my mother's favorite musical. So when she discovered that it was coming on, she sat the three of us down; a five year old, a three year old, and a baby. According to her, we sat silently watching the movie with her. I don't know how we could have been that good or absorbed, but she believes that we timed our short attention spans to coincide with commercials. It's easy to believe it when you count the decades (I refuse to tell you the exact numbers) that have passed, but truth or not, that's my mother's story and she's sticking to it! When I was in seventh grade, she put Lisa & I to bed early and woke us up at midnight to watch the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. We had heard the plot and the songs for years, but had never been able to see the movie itself. Again, long before DVD's or videos. You could say that my passion for things romantic began at an early age! My mother taught us well. Someday, I might tell the story of how my brother, Richard, proposed to his wife, Janet. Though, in the words of Aslan, it isn't my story to tell, I love telling stories even more than I love romance.
Wednesday night, on the way home from church, Delilah was on the radio. Now, if you want romance, just tune in to her. She happened to play one of the most romantic songs there is... When I Fall In Love from Sleepless in Seattle. I turned it up so that I couldn't hear myself, sang along, and sighed at the end. Then I found another romantic song and sighed as I drove past downtown Birmingham, lights aglow and my romantic heart all aflutter. In looking for another song, I pressed the button for WDJC, the Christian Radio station. I honestly can't remember what song it was, but I was in the mood to sing along. Ok, I'm always in the mood to sing along, but I did. It was rejoicing in His love, His provision, and the fact that He never leaves us. Then it hit me. Which of those three songs was the most romantic? Which one told the whole story? Which love that was mentioned is eternal?
I started to analyze then. As fun as the flutters and sighs of romantic things are, they fade. Reality and real life intrude. His love is ever present through the monotony. Who breaks into song over morning breath and the direction of the toilet paper roll? His presence can be felt even during the frustrations of morning traffic. He is so much more than feelings, songs and night time sky scapes. He is eternal. He has made Himself availabe for those of us who have fallen in love, those of us who haven't and those of us whose hearts have been broken. He's more than any song, movie or feeling. He's better. So, next time we feel alone and loney, let's remember that we have with us the One who is the Author of romance.
In love,
Lara
