There’s something about a love song that grabs a girl’s heart. It’s not just the tune, though that can be the winsome agent that sets your heart singing. A good love song says things my very soul longs to hear and believe. [My kids tell me I’m silly to always be listening for lyrics and rejecting a song if it’s got unacceptable ones…After all, if the tune grabs you why let a few words get in the way! But ahhh it’s a sweet song that delivers both.]

So what does my soul want to hear? That I am loved, as I am, forever and always, no chance of losing favor, no matter what I do (or don’t)… That someone I love is crazy about me… That he likes me just the way I am! That someone I love wants to talk to me and listen to what’s on my mind… That he loves my company…

Well, yes, I guess that’s what my soul wants to hear. And I believe that’s because I was created for such a love. Secular artists may not know their Source but when they write lyrics and sing tunes that resonate with a love like this, they echo faintly a Love beyond human comparison. I found a song like that. When I listen as if it were written for me, expressing God’s own heart, it makes my soul sing and my face reflect the pleasure.

Try it and see ( :

Billy Joel sings “Just the Way You Are”

Don’t go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don’t imagine you’re too familiar
And I don’t see you anymore
I wouldn’t leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I’ll take the bad times
I’ll take you just the way you are
Don’t go trying some new fashion
Don’t change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
I don’t want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.
I said I love you and that’s forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.

And that was Joel (Billy). Here’s how Zephaniah* puts it:

“Sing aloud… shout! Rejoice and exult with all your heart,…the LORD has taken away the judgments against you… The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil…He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by HIs love; He will exult over you with loud singing!”

Now that’s a love song worth taking to heart!

*(Zephaniah 3:14-17)