1. |
Mom & Dad
03:53
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He grew up in the Dot
He was not enough
For my mother’s dad initially
He had to get respect
And at times he felt
Like it was a fight to the death
He packed up everything
After his wedding
And drove straight to California
For a couple days
They rationed everything
Survived on pancake mix and water
The youngest of seven
The baby girl of Franklin
My grandpa was a navy man
He served in World War II
He broke his nose a few times
He worked to the bones for his kids
Addiction in their veins
The Brinkleys drank and drank
My mother was no exception
Then Jesus came and saved her
Now she’s the Christian sister
And she has a big family of her own
I never herd my dad
Resent where he was at
He never complained of his station
He lost a couple jobs
His business partner robbed him
He just rolled up his sleeves and got to work
My mother taught for home
She felt we had to know
How to think from a Christian worldview
I learned to love to read
The Bible and coffee
With my mom in the kitchen in the mornings
I still see my mom read
The Scriptures in the morning
This time it’s on Sunday for our services
She’s can’t stop mothering
Every week she brings
A box of treats for his grandkids
And her heart it breaks
When she sees her babies ache
With suffering and hardship
She’s always felt the sting
Of other people’s pain
And her tears they are beautiful to me
My father’s hair is white
And his smiles bright
He’s starting to get that grandpa charm
He comes with me to church
His faith is sturdier
Now with my son in his arms
I will pass on down
That old ancient crown
Of hard work to my sons
It’s a family relic
My siblings and I have it
And my boys will know I got it from my dad
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2. |
Brothers & Sisters
07:03
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He’s lately on my mind
And when I think of him I could cry
It’s not pity, it’s not grief
It’s just heavy
You see my brother is a soldier
He was one long before he enlisted
And he’s still one working construction
Always fighting
But sometimes I wonder if those demons
That he fights are his own reflection
He’s always been one to self-destruct
I wonder if he knows how much he’s loved
My other brother can’t stay put
He’s African, he’s Forrest Gump
He has to feel his body pushed
To the brink
Recently a divorcee
He’s broken into pieces
And he simply wants to see his kids
A bit more
And he’s clinging on to promises
Like, “See, I am making all things new”
He’s seeing sins he did not see before
So deep in grief, he’s tasting grace anew
My sister’s been so sad
Digging wounds up from the past
That have grown infected with
The pass of time
For years she saw me at my worst
I’d shout her down and I would curse
Belittle her with every word
I spoke
Now she thinks she’s got what she deserves:
A life with happiness eluding her
I want to interrupt the feedback loop
With words of love: “You’re made for so much more!”
I don’t know
How to say this
But my heart breaks
When I think
Of all the things we’ve left unsaid
They’ll possibly be left there till we’re dead
My baby sister’s always been
Hungry for affection
Yet she’s got the love of everyone
She meets
She’s braver than she realizes
She’s faced her demons and she faces
Them every single time
That she wakes
And I hope that she remembers
Her identity is firmly fixed above
And that the good life is one of holiness
With joy that’s deeper than a kiss
My little brother’s in college
He’s disciplined and now he’s ripped
But lately he is anxious
About the future
He’s quietly bright
He’s creative and he’s wise
But he still wants the approval of
His brothers
I hope he finds some rest in knowing
Christ the greatest treasure he could find
That’s why his pastor brother asks about
Church and books and what is on his mind
I don’t know
How to say this
But my heart breaks
When I think
Of all the things we’ve left unsaid
I don't want to leave them till we’re dead
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3. |
Jonah
05:35
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Son, oh my son, I know you’ll grow tired of hearing it
But I enjoy your very existence. I love you so much.
Son, oh my son, you have my face and my nature
That same bended posture of the heart
I’ll show you the one who can make straight
Watch as I cling to this all great
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
Son, oh my son, watch as I pray for favor
Watch as I praise while I suffer and know God is near
Son, oh my son, I can’t tell you your vocation
But I can tell you why you’re breathing, your purpose is clear
I’ll show you the song that the day sings
I’ll teach you the tune that the night rings
“Glory to God!” my boy, your heart was made for this
Son, oh my son, I will show you your Father
By being a much smaller version of Him
And when I fall, I won’t make excuses at all
I’ll show you a fountain of grace by binging on it
Follow me down this path that is well-worn
It’s cold but it leads to a new morn
Confession is death but it brings life after it
Son, oh my son, look at your beautiful mother
She’ll tell you I’m not her Savior (but I want to look like Him)
Son, oh my son, watch as I tell her I love her
See how I confess to her when I’m wrong
I’ll show you her scars I have given
She gave me her heart and I broke it
We brought it to Christ, he bound it up, now we speak of grace
Son, oh my son, watch as I feast on this bread
Watch as I drink from this cup, this body and blood is all I have
Son, oh my son, watch as I pour over this book
See that hungry, greedy look that’s in my eye
I’m desperate to find my Jesus
And Jonah, if you’ll believe it
He stands and he speaks to me from every Spirit-writ page
There’s magic in this world, son, don’t be fooled
It’s deeper than your eyes can behold
Glory is seeping from every pore of everything
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4. |
Henry
05:29
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I’m watching you pretend to read, I am so proud
Your mother and I love to talk about
What kind of man you’ll grow to be
Will you paint? Will you sing? Will you write poetry?
You can’t stay still when we’re reading the Bible
But you say “Amen” when we’re done praying
Your brother runs around when we’re singing hymns
But you are spellbound by all kinds of music
Not even two, already sinning
It’s clear you are Adam’s progeny
But I pray for you, my sweet Henry,
That the Second Adam would claim you graciously
I intend to neglect none
Of your deep feelings, your firey passion
I will teach you not to despise
Your neediness, my Jesus can meet it
I will show you what you were made for
I will train you up to fear the Lord
I will teach you how to fight dragons
And how to confess sins, and how to forgive them
I will show you strength and honor
Begins on your knees: allegiance to the King
My son—Henry
My boy, my joy, my Henry
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5. |
Shannon
06:05
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In this house there is room for me and my sons
Like the corner with my desk and shelves full of books
Where my boys crawl on my guitar case
No single use for any single space
Every room unselfishly yields
To everyone who needs to feel warm
In our kitchen is our table where we feast
Some foods finds our bellies and some our feet
Every meal a liturgy
Cook, pray, eat, make a mess, clean, repeat
Every meal a liturgy
Cook, pray, eat, make a mess, clean, repeat
In our house there is five mirrors
They serve us as our educators
They’re graced smiles and shaving cream
Slobber, laughter, and sometimes screams
But never more beautiful
Than when reflecting my bride back at her
In her morning grog and pre-sleep routine
In her untamed glory and groomed beauty
Blessed are you, bathroom mirror
When her image you are graced to bear
Thusly are you converted
From ordinary to the sacred
This small house speaks the name of my bride
She has room for me and my boys inside
She feeds our bellies she leads our meal liturgies
And her face beautifies utility
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6. |
Church
06:07
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I have felt the warm embrace of God
Through the arms of my brothers
Extensions of his love
I have seen mothers and fathers lament
Over loss of unborn infants
While lifting holy hands
I have heard the voice of the living God
Calling out through humble sermons
I have heard the sound of heaven
In the songs of saints in holy worship
I have felt the weight of the burden of death
I have wept and shouldered up
The heavy hearts of my friends
I have wept more with bursting tears of joy
As my friends have been surprised
By the kindness of our Lord
I have been snatched from the hot licks of hell
And I have the scars to prove it my wife knows it well
Many times I’ve come to the precipice of death
But the kindness of my Lord brought me low to repent
Knit us together in love
Seal us forever above
There is one body, one Spirit, one Lord
One Father, one adoption
A family of daughters and sons of God
Purchased by holy blood
I have seen miracles with my own two eyes
I have seen so many pass over
From death to life
I have seen a glimpse of our great homeland
With bread on my lips
And wine in my hand
Arm in arm we march onward to the promised land
Making it our business to get each other in
And though our foe death waits on the banks of our country
It has been defanged by Christ, he has stolen its sting
Knit us together in love
Seal us forever above
There is one body, one Spirit, one Lord
One Father, one adoption
A family of daughters and sons of God
Purchased by holy blood
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Samuel G. Parkison Kansas City, Missouri
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