My Moving Song

Have you ever had to do something you didn’t want to do? It takes a lot of grace and an extra helping of grit to get through it, doesn’t it? That’s what gets the credit for my “Moving Song” below: God’s unfathomable grace and the knowledge that He equips us to do what He calls us to do.

As a person who spent my entire childhood and young adult years living in the same house, moving does not come very naturally to me. I feel like it takes a few years off my life every time I have to do it. Yet I’ve managed to survive seven moves since I got married, and I know God will get me through the eighth should the contract presently pending on our house go through as expected.

I know seven moves seems measly to some readers — here’s looking at you, members of the military — who’ve changed residences so often they’ve lost count. But I still get emotional about changing homes and leaving friends and family behind. Which is why I wrote the following new lyrics for an old show tune: to preach the truth to myself (that the LORD will carry me through) and to assure my family that my confidence in God’s goodness isn’t shaken, despite the fact I can barely speak to some of them right now without bursting into tears.

You can listen to me singing my new lyrics below. They’re set to Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Isn’t It Kinda Fun” from the musical State Fair. (The song begged for a rewrite, in my opinion, as the original lyrics took a flippant approach to some serious matters.)

I couldn’t find a good karaoke version for the song, and since the bridge sounds a little weird without a soundtrack backing it (and you have no way of hearing the one that’s been playing inside my head for the past couple of weeks), I just sang the first half for this recording:

CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON TO HEAR MY NEW LYRICS TO AN OLD SHOW TUNE:

My Moving Song

Maybe we’ll get to live here the rest of our life.
Maybe we’ll have to move in a week.
But isn’t it good to know, regardless of where we go,
Our future is far from bleak?

Maybe we’ll sell the house — or maybe we won’t.
Maybe we’ll go — or maybe we’ll stay.
Whatever the future brings, may God help my heart to sing,
Thankful for each new day.

You know I’ve never been too fond of change
I’d rather live as I have grown accustomed!
But I suspect that all life’s present pains
Are just God’s way of teaching me to trust Him!

And so I’m resolved and willing to follow God’s plan
In spite of the fact it may not match mine,
Lord, give me the grace to pray faithfully, come what may,
Not my own way will I follow, but Thine!

I’ll be okay just as long as you are near.
With you by my side, I have nothing to fear!
Though weeping may last all through the night,
Tomorrow will find things looking bright.

Of this I’m sure: My life’s secured
By God’s eternal tether.
And by His grace, I’ll run my race
Rejoicing that we will always be together!

Oh, maybe we’ll live right here for the rest of our life
Or maybe we’ll have to move in a week,
But isn’t it good to know, regardless of where we go,
Our future is far from bleak?

Maybe we’ll sell the house — or maybe we won’t.
Well, maybe we’ll go — or maybe we’ll stay.
Whatever the future brings, may God help my heart to sing,
Thankful for each new day.

I always write down plans for my days
Although I know I might need to adjust ’em.
You know I’ve never been too fond of change
I’d rather live as I have grown accustomed!

Nevertheless, I’m willing to follow God’s plan
In spite of the fact it doesn’t match mine,
Lord, give me the grace to pray faithfully every day
Not my will be done forever, but Thine!

By the way, our amazing realtor, Joni Rudak, is not only our dear friend but is also a staging specialist. The video below will give you a good feel for Joni’s work. She’s an excellent resource if you are trying to sell a home in East Texas!