I’m a big fan of the song “You Are So Beautiful.” I like most (not all) of the versions that have been produced over the last few decades. Joe Cocker’s version is probably my favorite. There’s something deeply soulful about it. Something simple. Something beautiful.The song fell out of favor in the Graves house a several years back. My sister, Kelly, walked down the aisle to this song in 1997 when she married her (now “ex”) husband Jory. It was the perfect song for a beautiful bride.
I was eighteen when they got married. On top of the world. Big hoop earring. Suffice to say I did not lack for confidence.
When she came down that aisle twelve years ago, I cried like Lucas did late last night. “Can’t you see? . . .you’re everything I hoped for, you’re all I need. You are so beautiful to me.”
But their marriage only lasted a few short years. It shattered into a million little pieces.
Last night, Kara and I are watching American Idol, Lucas is fast asleep and Danny Gokey busts out a hallelujah-filled version of “You Are So Beautiful.”
Context is everything.
If I’d heard that song last week, it would have brought back bitter memories surrounding my sister’s messy divorce. Broken hearts. Betrayed covenant. Fatherless little girl (my sister has a beautiful daughter named Lexi). My trip to Arkansas to stand by my sister during the divorce proceedings (my father was so upset he could not go).
But, we’ve had time as a family to heal. Kelly is now remarried to a gem, Major Ray Stemitz—a gentle man’s man if I ever met one. He’s a great husband to Kelly and an equally great father to Lexi. The wounds are still there for her but they aren’t as fresh. Actually, the wounds are now more like scars.
And Lucas is here. A new chapter for everyone.
When Gokey belted out that song last night, everything in the world, at least for a moment, felt good. Kelly’s in a healthy place in her own life. Kara’s an all-star mom. Lucas is rocking our world one dirty diaper at a time.
P.S. Kara recently wrote a great blog about the actual birth day.
2 comments:
Beautiful post. One of my first memories of your sister was hearing her 'story' in my marriage and family class @ Rochester. It's been uplifting to see her find happiness. And I know the power that children have to change the meaning of so many things in your life...Lucas IS so beautiful, and he is a lucky little guy! (and P.S. I thought Danny did a GREAT job with that song!) =]
I completely forgot you all overlapped. Wow.
I was sad Gokey went home. The tweenagers strike again. Ahhh.
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