Trent Richardson wrote a song promising his newborn son that he’d never be alone. He said he wrote it for the thousands of parents in NICU praying for a miracle. You are not alone.
This morning on the radio, I heard Trent tell about the traumatic time, one year ago, when just after birth, his son was diagnosed with the rare condition Septo-Optic Dysplasia (SOD). Trent, a musician, said writing this song was therapy for him.
You are not alone
Trent wrote on his Instagram account, “I wrote this song from the deepest, heaviest part of my heart. My son spent 2.5 months in the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit] fighting through medical conditions no baby should ever have to face. Watching your child in an incubator changes you forever. It is a lonely, terrifying road that so many parents walk in silence.
There are thousands of NICU babies fighting right now, and thousands of parents sitting by those wires and monitors, praying for a miracle. I wrote this for you. You are not alone.” Trent Richardson Instagram
Trent’s beautiful song is called, “Promise You Now.” Trent sings of the stressful time, and promises to stand by his son always, no matter what happens. Some of the lyrics are:
“Other dads take their babies on home.
I sit by your bed, not sure how it’s gonna go
Didn’t get that first car trip home
No front porch steps. No warm hugs at the door. Just hospital beds
And I know that all this weight on you ain’t fair
I will always be there
They say that everything happens for a reason
But this right here boy, it’s not your fault
Just keep on holding, Have no fear
Cause I’ll always be here
I promise you now, you’ll never be alone
No matter the journey we walk
Every road, wherever you are
You know I’ll always be close.”
Praying for a miracle
You can listen to this beautiful song here: Trent Richardson – Promise You Now
This song makes me cry every time. Perhaps it’s the music. Perhaps it’s the words of love – the promises of a father facing an uncertain future for his son, and the promise of hope and joy, even in this time of uncertainty and failed expectations.
Trent said there are thousands of parents in NICU praying for a miracle. I’d agree, and say there are thousands more, not only in hospital, praying for a miracle.
Father’s Day
Tomorrow it’s Father’s Day in Australia. Right now, I’m thinking about all the fathers and mothers who are struggling for many different reasons and finding Father’s Day not such a happy time. I also think of those who find Father’s Day difficult because of their relationship with their own father. I’ve written about these issues before – see the related posts below.
A father’s love
Trent Richardson’s song is a powerful promise of a father’s love through the darkest times. He wants to remind all struggling parents that they are not alone. God, our heavenly father makes the same promise to all believers – we will never be alone:
Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:20
Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
Hebrews 13:5
Do not fear
Trent tells his son not to fear; he’ll never be alone. Dad will always be there no matter what. God says the same thing to us:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them [enemies], for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
The perfect father
In all honesty, our earthly fathers probably WILL let us down. They just can’t be with us always, protecting us from every danger. Maybe there was a time when we really didn’t want our father to be always with us. We wanted to escape his watchful eye and make our own decisions. Becoming independent is part of growing up.
Perhaps your father is old or sick and is dependent on others for many things. Perhaps you are burdened with his needs or feel guilty that you are unable to help him. Perhaps your feelings for your father are stained with anger and bitterness about the past.
My prayer for you is that you can hear what your heavenly Father says to you – that His good and perfect love will never fail:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you are the perfect father, and that you always keep your promises to love me. Forgive me when I forget to thank you for all your goodness to me. Thank you for life, for breath, for food and clothing, for money, for a home, for the sunrise and the sunset, for the amazing stars, and all your beautiful creation. I pray for all those who are struggling physically, emotionally, spiritually, or financially, that they may find the support and help that they need.
Thank you for my family. Help me to forgive my parents. Help those of us who are parents, to be guided by your perfect example. And help our children to forgive us for our mistakes and sins.
Please help all of us who struggle, to cling to your promise of comfort, protection and love in all circumstances.
We pray for the hope, joy and peace that only you can bring.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Related Posts:
A Prayer for Parents_new school year
Happy Mother’s Day for those who aren’t so happy about it
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