Steven Curtis Chapman is a contemporary Christian musician whose career spans 20 years and 16 albums (with over 10 million sold); during that time he’s also won one American Music Award, five Grammy’s, and 51 Dove Awards. Add to that 45 #1 songs, and it’s arguable he’s the most successful CCM artist evah.
I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert during the All Things New Tour a few years ago (with Chris Tomlin and Casting Crowns, the concert was beyond amazing!), and it hit me after two decades in the business, he still has a voice that needs to be heard…his lyrics inspire, testimony to a determined faith.
As a biological father to three children and an adoptive father to three more daughters, he often gains inspiration for his music from his wife and family. The following is an example of this, the thoughts of a father as he watches his own Cinderella grow up. The lyrics pierce the heart (chorus):
While she is here in my arms
‘
Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone…
And while I am a HUGE SCC fan and have purchased several of his CDs through the years, this song by Bob Carlisle tugs at the daughter heartstrings just as much (more?). He released it 10 years ago when my daughter was just five…and every time I heard it I CRIED (and guys, I am NOT typically an emotional woman!) (really). I had witnessed first-hand so many of the little girl-isms he so beautifully sang about, and butterfly kisses were part of our nighttime routine (so were Eskimo kisses 🙂 ). You’ll want to listen to this one til the very end.
Both Bob’s and Steven’s songs are written from a father’s perspective, but, oh, how I can taste the bittersweet of raising my daughter for another man, and my sons for their future brides.
And to tell the truth, sometimes…sometimes…that just hurts.
Link to some GREAT concert photos!
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So sweet – thanks for making me cry! The Offspring already feels as if she is leaving us….
Thanks for sharing.
….tears in my eyes over here too!
Great post….thanks sweet friend.
Wish I knew to grab the tissues BEFORE we went to go see SCC in concert last month. Try NOT crying when you hear Cinderella and When Love Takes You In. We attended the show with another couple, like my wife and I, that adopted a baby girl from China. Two of my recent posts on my blog address the SCC show and the song “Cinderella.” The song is the first you’ll hear when you visit my blog now. I got some great pictures at the show too. Here’s a link to my post about the show: http://thoughtsofafather.blogspot.com/2007/11/incredible-show.html
Thanks for sharing this and adding the video.
Thank you.
I love that song by SCC:). He’s certainly been going a long time now.
(Lately, I’m loving Bebo Norman’s music.)
Hey all your girlie-Qs who can relate as mothers! Thanks for commiseratin’ :).
Robert, he IS great in concert, huh? As a newer dad, I’m sure this really tugged at your heart….:)
Robin, i’m telling you, a cat is much easier!! 🙂
Claudia, GREAT comic relief! And I dunno, I might argue that right about now….our cat pulled some kind of a wicked “stunt” and “defiled” my daughter’s BED! She’s been banished from inside the house as a result…;)
ooh, kitty was pissed off!! hahaha, sorry….but sometimes they do that when they are mad about something!! or sick. make sure kitty’s ok. (and really, you can still banish the cat outside..wanna try that with the kids???) 😉
I hadn’t thought of it in that way (raising our children for someone else)… but I always knew they were just borrowed.
Claudia, ha! you’re punny :). But yeah, we thought either she was MAD at us for leaving her here overnight or perhaps sick (so we’re watching her like a hawk).
Pamela…yeah…**sigh**…