Abby’s Song

Dedicated to Abigail Brooke S. on the occasion of her Baby Dedication Day

Abigail is so small
But God has a plan for her
And we know
That she will go far
Abby Brooke you are
So full of promise and
God’s everlasting
Love, you are so beautiful.
Abby there’s so much time for you
Time to live and time to choose
Abby, if I only had one wish for you
Is to let God lead in your daily walk
She’s just a little baby
But with a soul
And the light of God shining through
In the smile on her face
So much hope for a child
The world is big
Opportunities abounding
Changing the years of her life
Abby there’s so much time for you
Time to live and time to choose your way
With Him as your guide
Abby, we all pray for you
Abby, if I only had one wish for you
Is to let God lead in your daily walk
Baby time goes by
Suddenly you rise
Within the blink of an eye
Childhood is gone
The Son reigns on high
You’re moving on
She’s sleeping for a moment
Sliding my finger down her face
Just thinking
Counting the ways God’s blessed you
Abby there’s still time for you
Abby you should feel it too
Abby you are on your way
Every day is a new day
Abby there’s so much time for you
Time to live and time to choose
Abby, if I only had one wish for you
Is to let God lead in your daily walk

(C) 2004 Rodney Keith Richardson & Stephanie Wiedman

Heart of Stone

No one looks only stares
No one loves no one cares.
It started very young
In spite the dues I paid;
The hatred grew inside
An ugly child was made.

The rage within the cage
The pain felt deep within
Can never be released
Will tear my world apart.
And then when all is done
My story will be known.
The violence gripped inside
Was just a heart of stone.

Captured feelings so stained
Imprisoned life so restrained
Placed the shackles on my soul
Forced me onto a dark road
Now my eyes can’t bear the light
My cavern is black as coal.

The rage within the cage
The pain felt deep within
Can never be released
Will tear my world apart.
And then when all is done
My story will be known.
The violence gripped inside
Was just a heart of stone.

Floating through this life
On waves of angry sea
Crushed beneath the dreams
Of all I ever wished to be.

From hell’s fires I’ll call your name
Through the halls of death and shame
Eternity can’t stop the guilt
But it don’t matter anymore.
All the good ones will live on
Still venting darkness from their core.

The rage within the cage
The pain felt deep within
Can never be released
Will tear my world apart.
And then when all is done
My story will be known.
The violence gripped inside
Was just a heart of stone.

Tears

Life is a mystery
My grandma once said
Searching for meaning
Finding hardships instead.
Tears find their way
Down our face time to time
Following life’s journey
Without reason or rhyme.

Tears of joy
Tears of pain
Cry through the sunshine
Cry through the rain.
We seldom think
How great is the cost
Of each precious tear
That runs down and is lost.

Falling in love for the very first time
Then breaking apart
To the heart is a crime.
Tears come and tears go
‘Tis a fact that is true
Climbing up strong
On our way to the blue.

Tears of joy
Tears of pain
Cry through the sunshine
Cry through the rain.
We seldom think
How great is the cost
Of each precious tear
That runs down and is lost.

All the special moments
In life they stand out,
As tears roll down faces
Showing what it is all about.

Saying goodbye to
My friends who were dear
Holding the first time
My little one near.
Tears, they keep flowing
Down the face bye and bye;
Deep in dark valleys
And on mountaintop high.

Tears of joy
Tears of pain
Cry through the sunshine
Cry through the rain.
We seldom think
How great is the cost
Of each precious tear
That runs down and is lost.

This Woman, This Angel, My Mom

Verse 1
She was born in the old days
The country way
She never had very much
Raised ‘neath the pecan trees
And the preacher talkin’
‘bout God and His love.

She’d say son the old ways are good ways
They make you full of truth and grit
Honest in dealings
Straight forward in word
Just like I want you to be.

Verse 2
Between Mom and Pa and the Preacher
I raised up to know right from wrong
I faint at all the disappointment I brought
All the times I broke her heart.

You see I went my way when I turned seventeen
I still remember every tear she spilled
I had to sow my oats to this old cruel world
Find out how wise my Mama could be.

Chorus
I stopped by to see her
The other day
It had been way too long.
I know she was happy
To see her long lost son
I fell in her arms so strong
This woman, this angel, my Mom.

Verse 3
She told me of prayers and sleepless nights
An looking longingly out the door.
She held my hand so tight that it hurt
As she whispered me these words…

Son you have come home now
We’re complete
You don’t have to say a single thing
I’m thankful that the Lord
Has granted me
The prayer that filled my life.

Chorus
I stopped by to see her
The other day
It had been way too long.
I know she was happy
To see her long lost son
I fell in her arms so strong
This woman, this angel, my Mom.

Verse 4
The years went by
I watched her golden hair turn gray
It felt so good to see her smile
Baking pies for my children on Christmas Day
Memories beyond price.

When we laid her to rest
On a cold winter’s morn
It was the saddest day I knew
She was the strongest person I had ever met
I couldn’t bear to let her go
She’s in Your hands now, Lord.

Bridge
Now it’s been a while
I’ve had time to think
How many people’s lives
Did this, my Mama save?

Chorus
I stopped by to see her
The other day
It had been way too long.
I know she was happy
To see her long lost son
I fell on her grave so alone,
This woman, this angel, my Mom.

Time To Shine

So many years ago
Or was it just yesterday
A bundle of joy
First came my way.
A little blue bonnet
And blanket wrapped tight
My whole world had changed
As I kissed him goodnight.

Tiny kisses
Tiny toes
Tiny faces
With eyes aglow.
All grow up
With speed and haste
Soon the years
Become a chase.
O what wonders
The future holds
Pain and joy
Memories of gold.
Glory to this
Son of mine.
For now it is
His time to shine.

My tears joined with his
As together we grew
One day at a time
Filled with promises so true.
First talking – then walking
Every moment a surprise.
First haircut first tooth
First bad words and first lies.

Tiny kisses
Tiny toes
Tiny faces
With eyes aglow.
All grow up
With speed and haste
Soon the years
Become a chase.
O what wonders
The future holds
Pain and joy
Memories of gold.
Glory to this
Son of mine.
For now it is
His time to shine.

The years all rolled by
As fast as the wind
Riding bicycles and skates
Always on the mend.
School projects – girlfriends
Staying up way too late.
Football practice – crazy loud music
And then finally . . . a date.

Tiny kisses
Tiny toes
Tiny faces
With eyes aglow.
All grow up
With speed and haste
Soon the years
Become a chase.
O what wonders
The future holds
Pain and joy
Memories of gold.
Glory to this
Son of mine.
For now it is
His time to shine.

In a vapor of smoke
It happened so fast
O dear God he’s a man
Now his childhood is past.

Tiny kisses
Tiny toes
Tiny faces
With eyes aglow.
All grow up
With speed and haste
Soon the years
Become a chase.
Filled with pride
I see the man
That once I held
Within my hands.
Glory to this
Son of mine.
For now it is
His time to shine.