Stories worth
singing.

I was just a little girl Trying to make sense of this world Wondering why some prayers went unanswered Wondering why my heart was shattered I didn't know what You were doing I only knew that I was losing I thought You were somewhere far away While I was learning how to pray But looking back, I see it now You were there somehow You knew my name Before the world could tell me who I was You saw every scar I tried to hide Every tear I cried when no one was around Every time I thought I'd lost my way You never turned away You knew my name You knew my name I grew up before I should Learned to hide the hurt like I thought I could Carried things no child should carry Wore a smile when my heart was weary There were nights I begged for answers There were days I couldn't see But even in the silence You were holding onto me I thought I had to make it on my own I thought I had to find my way back home But every road I thought I walked alone You were beside me all along You knew my name Before the world could tell me who I was You saw every scar I tried to hide Every tear I cried when no one was around Every time I thought I'd lost my way You never turned away You knew my name You knew my name I thought I had to become Someone worthy of Your love I thought I had to earn What You gave before I learned But You loved me in the ashes You loved me through the flames You never asked me to be whole Before You called me by my name I spent my whole life trying to become Someone worthy of Your love But You loved me before I became anyone at all I thought You were waiting at the end of the road... But You were walking every step with me. You knew my name Before I ever learned to call Yours You saw the little girl afraid You saw the woman I would become someday And when I couldn't recognize myself You never turned away You knew my name When I was lost, You knew my name When I was broken, You knew my name When I couldn't find the strength to pray You were still calling me by name And after everything I've been through After every road I've wandered through There's one thing I know is true... You knew my name. And now... I know Yours. Jesus.

“I’m twenty-two… going on seventy.” People always smile when I say that, Until they hear my story. I’ve spent more nights praying in hospital hallways Than chasing Friday nights with friends. Some souls grow older way too early, When life changes before it should. I’m twenty-two going on seventy, With a young heart and an old soul’s memory. I’ve worn shoes too big for these feet, Carried weights that nobody could see. Every scar became a teacher, Every tear became a prayer. You can’t measure someone’s lifetime By the number of years they’re here. I’m twenty-two going on seventy… But God’s not finished writing my story. I’ve learned that strength can look like tears, And hope can shine through broken years. If my smile looks a little older, It’s because it learned to survive. I’ve seen enough to know one thing— The darkest nights don’t always win. Maybe every road I’ve walked Will help someone find their way. If my story gives one heart hope, Then I’d do it all again. I’m twenty-two going on seventy, With a young heart and an old soul’s memory. I’ve worn shoes too big for these feet, Carried weights that nobody could see. Every scar became a teacher, Every tear became a prayer. There’s still laughter left to find, Still love waiting somewhere for me. I’m twenty-two going on seventy… And God’s still writing the rest of the story

August twenty-sixth, Sixteen years old and scared to death I didn’t know a heart could keep on beating When half of it had already left The house got quiet, the world kept turning Everybody said I’d be okay But nobody told that little girl She’d miss her mama every day And I still remember that morning Like it happened yesterday Funny how six years can pass And somehow never take the pain away Every August 26th I lose you all over again But somewhere between the tears I remember where I’ve been Six years have come and gone And somehow I’m still standing Still wishing you were here I’m twenty-two now, Mom And I wish you could see me I’m not that scared sixteen-year-old Who thought she couldn’t breathe There were birthdays you weren’t there for And nights I needed you I’ve grown up in all the spaces Where I would’ve needed you I wonder if you’d be proud Of the woman I’ve become And sometimes when I catch myself Doing something just like you It feels like for a second A little piece of you came through Mom, I hope you know I made it Even when I didn’t think I could I’m still healing from that little girl Who just wanted you to stay if you could I’ve got pieces of you inside me In the way I love, the way I care And sometimes when I look in the mirror I swear I see you standing there Every August 26th I lose you all over again But somewhere between the tears I remember where I’ve been Six years have come and gone And somehow I’m still standing here I’m not that little girl anymore But I still wish you were here Every August 26th I remember where it began The day I lost my mama And the day I learned to stand Six years have come and gone And if somehow you can see me from there I hope you know I’m still becoming The woman you’d be proud to call your girl Six years have passed… But August 26th never did.

Today was heavier than I could bear I brought You every burden, every prayer My mind was running places I shouldn't go Trying to hold things only You know I counted every way it could go wrong Forgot that You have held me all along Then You reminded me of who You are And I gave You the worries in my heart You feed the birds up in the sky You clothe the flowers in the field And if You care for all of them How much more will You care for me? So I will trust You with tomorrow I will trust You with today You are faithful, You are sovereign You will always make a way I don't need to fear the future I don't need to understand Tomorrow can worry about tomorrow I'm safe within Your hands You never told me life would all be easy But You promised You would never leave me You know every need before I pray You see every tear I hide away So I'll seek Your kingdom first, my King I'll lay down every anxious thing For if You hold the heavens in Your hands I know You'll hold me where I stand You feed the birds up in the sky You clothe the flowers in the field And if You care for all of them How much more will You care for me? So I will trust You with tomorrow I will trust You with today You are faithful, You are sovereign You will always make a way I don't need to fear the future I don't need to understand Tomorrow can worry about tomorrow I'm safe within Your hands You are my provider You are my hiding place You are my peace when fear is rising You are my strength when I am weak You are enough, You are enough Forever You are enough So I will lift my eyes to Heaven And put my trust in You I trust You, Jesus I trust You, Jesus With every fear and every unknown I trust You, Jesus I trust You, Jesus My life is safe within Your hands So I will trust You with tomorrow I will trust You with today You are faithful, You are sovereign You will always make a way I don't need to fear the future I don't need to understand Tomorrow can worry about tomorrow I'm safe within Your hands Tomorrow can worry about tomorrow My future's in Your hands Tomorrow can worry about tomorrow Jesus, You are enough Jesus, You are enough.

Hey, little girl, I know you’re scared I know you wonder if somebody cares You’re trying so hard to hold it all together But you were never meant to carry it all You think being strong means never breaking You think love means holding on and waiting You don’t know what’s coming down the road But there’s something I wish you would’ve known You don’t have to be so strong You don’t have to pretend you’re okay You don’t have to carry everybody When you’re falling apart yourself I wish I could go back through time And hold you when you cried And tell you, “Little girl, just close your eyes I’ve got you now, you’re gonna be alright.” You’re gonna lose someone you can’t replace And wonder how the world keeps turning in that place You’re gonna learn what goodbye really means And grow up faster than you ever dreamed They’re gonna call you brave when you’re breaking They’re gonna praise the strength you’re faking But baby, you were only sixteen You should’ve been worried about ordinary things You don’t have to be so strong You don’t have to pretend you’re okay You don’t have to carry everybody When you’re falling apart yourself I wish I could go back through time And hold you when you cried And tell you, “Little girl, just close your eyes I’ve got you now, you’re gonna be alright.” You’re gonna spend some years just surviving Mistaking breathing for really being alive You’re gonna wonder if you’re worth being loved And blame yourself for things you never should’ve You’ll build walls you swear you’ll never tear down You’ll smile so nobody sees you drowning But somewhere underneath all that pain That little girl is still there waiting And I’m sorry that nobody came I’m sorry you thought you had to take the blame I’m sorry you learned to hide your tears And became an adult before you got to be a kid If I could go back, I’d take your hand I’d sit beside you and help you understand You weren’t too much You weren’t too broken You were just a little girl Who needed somebody to hold her So you don’t have to be so strong You can finally lay your armor down You don’t have to save everybody You don’t have to carry them now I can’t go back and change those years I can’t take away those tears But I can promise you this from here on out— I’ll be the one who stays And when you’re scared, I’ll hold you tight When you can’t sleep, I’ll stay all night When you forget you’re worth the fight I’ll remind you why So rest, little girl You don’t have to run anymore You’ve spent your whole life Trying to find your way home And I know you don’t believe me yet… But look at us. We made it. And little girl I’ve got you now.

I still look for you in every crowded room In the quiet after midnight, in the flowers when they bloom I still hear your voice when I’m falling apart Like a song I memorized with a broken heart I’ve been strong because I had to be Built a life from what was left of me But there are nights I swear I’m sixteen again Begging God to let me hold your hand And I still look for you When the world gets heavy When I don’t know what to do I still need you with me I’ve learned to stand, I’ve learned to fight I’ve learned to smile and say I’m alright But no matter how far I make it through I still look for you They say time heals, but they don’t understand It just teaches you to live without the hand That used to reach for yours before you fell Now I carry pain that I hide too well I’ve got walls around the softest parts I protect the ones inside my heart Maybe love is scary when you know How fast someone can have to go And I still look for you When the world gets heavy When I don’t know what to do I still need you with me I’ve learned to stand, I’ve learned to fight I’ve learned to smile and say I’m alright But no matter how far I make it through I still look for you But I hope you see me trying Hope you know I stayed Even when the dark got loud Even when I lost my way And maybe I’m still healing Maybe I’m still bruised But every step I’ve taken I’ve wished I could tell you I still look for you But maybe you’re not gone Maybe you’re in every breath That keeps me moving on I’ve learned to stand, I’ve learned to fight I’ve learned there’s hope past lonely nights And every time I make it through I think a part of me Still gets home to you

God, I’ve got questions I don’t know how to say Why I’ve carried so much pain At such a young age I’ve lost more than I thought I could Cried more than people see And sometimes I wonder why This life’s been so heavy on me I don’t know why I’ve had to walk through fire I don’t know why I’ve had to lose so much But I still trust You I still love You Even when it hurts You are my perfect Father My shelter in the storm And after everything I’ve been through I’m still honored to be Yours I may be broken I may be tired But I’m Your daughter still I’ve prayed with no words Just tears on my face Wondering why the ones I loved Couldn’t stay But even in the questions Even when I fall apart I’m not running from You, Father I’m running to Your heart I don’t know why I’ve had to walk through fire I don’t know why I’ve had to lose so much But I still trust You I still love You Even when it hurts You are my perfect Father My shelter in the storm And after everything I’ve been through I’m still honored to be Yours I may be broken I may be tired But I’m Your daughter still I don’t need every answer To know that You are good I don’t have to understand To know I’m understood So take my pain And hold me close Until my heart can heal I don’t understand it all But I’m Your daughter still

I’ve prayed with tears on my face Asked why she couldn’t stay I’ve been angry, I’ve been broken With questions I can’t say I thought faith meant I’d be stronger That I wouldn’t fall apart But You met me in the wreckage And held my shattered heart Jesus, You stayed When grief brought me to my knees You held on to me When I had no strength to believe You didn’t rush my healing You didn’t shame my pain Even when I couldn’t pray Jesus, You stayed I still miss her in the morning I still need her late at night But I believe she’s safe in Heaven Where pain can’t touch her now And maybe that’s the reason I’m still standing here today I don’t have all the answers But I know You never walked away Jesus, You stayed When grief brought me to my knees You held on to me When I had no strength to believe You didn’t rush my healing You didn’t shame my pain Even when I couldn’t pray Jesus, You stayed You were there in every tear Every lonely, angry year I don’t know why it hurt this way Jesus, You stayed When grief brought me to my knees You held on to me When I had no strength to believe And I know she’s safe in Heaven Even though I want her here So I’ll keep walking through the valley Knowing You are always near Even when my heart still breaks Jesus, You stayed.