Picking up my mini-series of introductions to songs on Leavin' Home, here are some snapshots of a song called "He Gave Me the Sea".
Two Christmases ago, my whole family met up and rented a house on the Outerbanks of North Carolina for a week. We had 13 people in a big summer house in the dead of winter. Is there a better time to stay at the beach?
My siblings are all married and have families of their own, and during this week there were three kiddos under the age of six running around (really four under the age of six, but the littlest at the time was only a few months old and not quite running yet). When I wasn't being invited to tea parties or playing unique renditions of board games with my nieces, I loved standing in the shadows, so to speak. I loved watching my siblings be parents. My brothers and sisters have always been my heroes, and seeing so many sweet moments between them and their kids was beautiful to watch.
One of the first times we walked down to the beach, I overheard my brother tell my niece that that big ocean was all for her. It didn't matter if she couldn't take it with her, or that she had no idea what to do with it... He simply gave her the sea. She may not remember it, but that moment between my niece and my brother caught my heart. There were a week-full of moments like this that inspired this song.
One Line: "Safe because he’s strong..."
The oldest of the three musketeers was very willing to brave the icy water, but the younger two found the ocean to be a bit daunting. These two were willing to get close to the water if dad was standing there with them, though. As long as he was there--ready to pick them up if the water got too close to their feet, they wanted to get as close as they could. I loved that little bit of adventurous spirit and also where they found their courage--in the knowledge that dad had 'em.
-Brittany