If you really know me at all, you know that I truly am my Father’s son. In just about every way you can think of. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
There is some music that many people deem corny or not worth a solid listening to. Steven Curtis Chapman falls into this category for most individuals. I can’t say that it does for me. I honestly believe that his music has instilled biblical truths into the core of who I am and what I believe, without me realizing it until now.
As I have matured and grown as an adult and as a Christian, the truths of the Bible have become so much more powerful and important. Not just as encouragement but as the sustenance that gets me through every day, depending on the commands and promises of blessing from the Lord. So the fact that this music is so important and enjoyable to me does not surprise me when I stop to consider to Biblical truths that SCC sings of in his music.
The credit for the power of his music in my life goes solely to my Dad, Steven Pickett. Like most boys, growing up I wanted and tried to be just like my Dad. The things He liked, I liked. We would be in the car driving to go play hockey when I was just a little tyke and be jamming out, full blast to Steven Curtis Chapman in my Dad’s pickup truck. All the time, everywhere we went. Christmas mornings consisted of listening to SCC’s Christmas album while opening presents. I even associate SCC’s voice with my Dad’s singing. I really do think that listening to SCC so much really did shape my Dad’s singing style, but I suppose that is irrelevant.
Based upon all of these different circumstances where SCC’s music was involved, you can probably tell that it is more sentimental to me than any other music. Not only is it sentimental, but I genuinely enjoy it more than any other because I have come to realize its depth. Songs like “Dive,” “Where We Belong,” “The Change,” “Be Still and Know,” “I Will Be Here, “More to This Life,” “Go There With You,” and so many more; essentially every song speaks to the core truths of Christianity. Realizing how fleeting life really is and that if we want more we have to take hold if it now through Christ and his love, not wait for happiness, joy, and love to fall in our laps. To achieve that we must dive in! We must trust God, who desires us to be still and trust Him to provide for our every need. We must give him everything; follow Him on this great adventure called life. Revealing what true love looks like; always being here, through the thick and the thin, loving and respecting women and one day your wife.
I could go on for so long quoting songs and the implications that I believe they have had on my life. The music that is my favorite to listen to and is the most sentimental to me is also the most biblically truthful, and for that, I am so very grateful. The person I respect more than anyone else in the world, my Father, through something as simple as the music that He listened to while I was growing up, had monumental effects on my life of which are incredibly positive.
While there is so much more I am grateful for from my Father and Mother, this is but one example of the little things that I am becoming aware of that are so imperative when raising children in the likeness of Christ. And yet more reason why I am proud to be and will continue to strive to be, my Father’s son.
I love you, Dad.