The Light of My Life

My Family is the Light of My Life

1 My family is the light of my life and my reason for living, yet I live in fear. My family gives me a reason to keep on going, yet I am afraid of losing them.

2 When others criticize me, I put up a barrier and justify myself.

3 When my wife criticizes me, I crumble in fear; if the children won’t listen to me, I am afraid that I’m doing something wrong again.

4 But I only want to keep my family together and happy. That’s all I really want. To be able to sit together around the table and talk about the day. To enjoy Christmas dinner with the grandkids.

5 But when trouble comes they abandon me; they go after their own dreams; they build their own families; they don’t even call.

6 So I hang my head in shame, I've got nothing to offer, no reason to rejoice. I’m alone.

7 Why won’t the children tell me what I did wrong?

8 I only wanted to make them happy. Everything I did was to help them.

9 Yet they've turned against me. They won’t talk to me. They won’t answer my calls. I've been abandoned, forsaken by the ones in whom I had placed my hope.

10 I don’t even fit in with my own family.

11 It seems that everyone is looking for a way to trip me up, waiting for me to fall again.

12 I might as well give up to what they want me to do; whatever I do, it’s the wrong thing, and people are just plotting against me.

13 Life is only going to get worse. What’s the point?

14 I’m tired of waiting for my family to come back to me; I’m going to die a weak and lonely old man.


But,

If the LORD is the light of my life...

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 

4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 

5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 

8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." 

9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. 

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 

14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

(Psalm 27)