D-Physical

Dignity
Words & Music by Steve Siler

I never wanted to end up this way
Helpless to help myself
With the simple day to day
I long for the time
When good health was mine
I miss who I used to be
and what I miss the most
is my dignity

When I act hurtful
It’s because I feel ashamed
Broken, in bondage to
This unresponsive frame
I can’t tie my shoes
I can’t brush my hair
I’m dependent for so many needs
And no one wants to live
without dignity

I look in your eyes
and to my surprise
When you look at me
You see more than a disease

It’s by your caring
That I am getting through
You have been Jesus
When only He would do
When this is hard
Know deep in your heart
The gift that you’ve given to me
That gift is nothing less
That gift is nothing less
That gift is nothing less
Than my dignity

© Silerland Music (Administered by ClearBox Rights, LLC)

We’ve Never Done This Dance Before
Words & Music by Steve Siler

(Male)
We’ve never done this dance before
The steps are uncertain, the moves unsure
But as long as the song plays I won’t leave the floor
Your dance card is full
I won’t leave you alone

(Female)
The tune’s unfamiliar but I feel your lead
You make from this chaos, a melody
And the care that you share makes the pain bittersweet
It means so much
To know I am loved

(Both)
Once we were younger
Once we were stronger
And we’d swing around and around
But now that we’re older
Even given the chance
I still wouldn’t sit this one out

No, we’ve never done this dance before
It’s awkward and grace-filled, too long…too short
So we’ll sway ‘til the fade of the very last chord
(F) I’ll curtsy, (M) I’ll bow
And that’s all
for now…..

© Silerland Music (Administered by ClearBox Rights, LLC)

Returning The Favor
Dwight Liles & Steve Siler

I took a step or two or three
And then I fell and scraped a knee
You picked me up, you held my hand
And gently said now try again
But now I walk quite easily
And now you say “Please wait for me”
We step so slowly down the hall
I take your arm so you won’t fall

Returning the favor
I try to remember
The times that you labored
And made it feel like love
When it’s not easy
Admitting you need me this way
Try and remember I’m returning the favor

You say to me “I’m so ashamed”
I called you by your brother’s name
We talk a few more minutes then
You call me by his name again
I almost say “No that’s not me”
But then I stop and let it be
So many times I made mistakes
And you replied, “Well, that’s OK”

Repeat CHORUS

You weren’t always perfect
There were times you let me down
Sometimes now, I won’t be what you need
But knowing that you gave to me the best you knew to give
I’ll give to you the best I have in me

Returning the favor
I try to remember
The times that you labored
And made it feel like love
When it’s not easy
Admitting you need me this way
Try and remember I’m returning the favor

© Silerland Music / Ninety Forty Ten Music ASCAP (Administered by ClearBox Rights,LLC)

Love Will Have To Do It
Dwight Liles & Steve Siler

I can’t do this for any of the usual reasons
This road won’t take me anywhere I’d choose to go
Opportunities will pass
I’ll lose time I won’t get back
Learning things nobody’d ever want to know
With every step I grow more apprehensive
and there’s nothing here to offer an incentive

So love will have to do it
‘Cause I don’t think I can
But if my heart can just surrender
Then love will lift my helping hands
This isn’t what I want or need
It isn’t right
It isn’t fair
I don’t know where to turn
or how to get through it
So love will have to do it

I fear sometimes you might not make this easy
I fear I won’t be strong enough or kind
I pray, I curse, I wish
We didn’t have to go through this
And yet there’s something precious in this time
This is so much harder than I thought it would be
And it isn’t half as hard as how it might be

So love will have to do it
‘Cause I don’t think I can
But if love can take me over
I’ll do whatever love demands
This isn’t what I want or need
It isn’t right
It isn’t fair
I don’t know where to turn
or how to get through it
So love, love’s gonna have to do it

If love can take me over
I’ll do whatever love demands
This isn’t what I want or need
It isn’t right
It isn’t fair
I don’t know where to turn
or how to get through it
So love
Love
Love will have to do it

© Silerland Music / Ninety Forty Ten Music ASCAP (Administered by ClearrBox Rights, LLC)

In The Middle Of The Mess
Words & Music by Tony Wood & Steve Siler

(First voice)
You spilled your soup all over the bed
And I got so angry with you
But then I realized later
It was really about all the history between us two

Today you complained that the kids were too loud
It wasn’t your place to scold
And even after I sent them outside
You still wouldn’t let it go
Sometimes I don’t know how much more I can take

(Second voice)
Let it all out
Feel what you feel
Then look at the guilt but make sure that it’s real
‘Cause it’s easy to be too hard on yourself
Give yourself a break and then rest
And trust that there’s grace
In the middle of the mess

(First voice)
It feels like my life is out of control
Can’t do what’s expected of me
For the third time this month I missed a T-ball game
Haven’t been on a date in six weeks
Feels like I’ve been letting everyone down

(Second voice)
Let it all out
Feel what you feel
Then look at the guilt but make sure that it’s real
‘Cause it’s easy to be too hard on yourself
Give yourself a break and then rest
And trust that there’s grace
In the middle of the mess

(First voice)
Some days I wish that this all would just end
And I feel so bad, so bad about that

(Second voice)
Let it all out
Feel what you feel
Then look at the guilt but make sure that it’s real
‘Cause it’s easy to be too hard on yourself
Give yourself a break and then rest
And trust in my grace
In the middle of the mess

© Silerland Music (Administered by ClearBox Rights LLC) / Sony ATV – Songs from Exit 71 ASCAP

You Should Hear Him Sing
Words & Music by Corey Niemchick & Steve Siler

The staff here knows my name – knows my routine.
I come in after work and stay ‘til she’s asleep
I sit beside her bed, she talks to me
The only son of her son, I am her legacy.
She speaks my name – but then looks at me and says…

Won’t you sit with me and stay awhile?
My grandson’s coming soon
I know you’d like him – he’s a lot like you
And oh, you should hear him sing.

We talk about the pictures on her wall
Places she’s never been – with friends who’ll never call.
I brush her hair – we talk of Jesus’ love
Though her mind is weak somehow her faith is strong.
We sing a few old hymns – then she looks at me and asks again…

Won’t you sit with me and stay awhile?
My grandson’s coming soon
I know you’d like him – he’s a lot like you
And oh, you should hear him sing.

Yes, I will sit with you and stay awhile
I know your grandson’s coming soon
And when he does I know he’ll pray for you
And oh, I know then he will sing

What a Friend we have in Jesus all our sings and griefs to share
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer

The staff here knows my name – knows my routine.
I come in after work and stay ‘til she’s asleep

© Storytelling Pictures Music & Silerland Music ASCAP (administered by ClearBox Rights LLC)

Do You Know I Love You
Words & Music by Steve Siler

It’s hard to give care from a distance
To know what you need but be miles away
I can’t hold your hand or look in your eyes
Or say what I’d like to say face to face

I manage the things I can manage
But so many details are out of my sight
I give in to tears, worries and fears
Powerless to make this alright

Do you know how I love you?
Do you know how I love you?
At the end of a day when we’re so far apart
Do you know your place in my heart?
Do you know I love you?

When you wake up in the nighttime
I wonder if you wonder where you are
If you’re in pain
If you’re afraid
All by yourself alone in the dark

I pray that you know in a deep place
I’m there with you now though I’m not by your side
You’re part of me and always will be
After all that you’ve meant in my life

Repeat CHORUS

I wish the circumstances were better
But until we can be together

Do you know? Do you know?
At the end of a day when we’re so far apart
Do you know your place in my heart?
Do you know? Do you know?
Do you know I love you?

© Silerland Music ASCAP (Administered by ClearBox Rights LLC)

Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Words & Music by Scott Krippayne & Steve Siler

When I’m exhausted
Completely poured out
And the well of my strength has run dry
When it’s so overwhelming
The needs come in waves
And there’s no way to hold back the tide
When all that I am is still not enough
When fatigue and frustration speak louder than love

Precious Lord, take my hand
Without you I’ve got no chance to do this
You alone understand
How much I need your help to get through this
And when I don’t think that I can
Precious Lord, take my hand

When my heart is breaking
‘Cause I know the end
And I’m looking for someone to blame
When I’m pushed to the limit
Emotions are raw
And the anger erupts hot like flame
When every last once of patience is gone
When I feel like a failure who’s getting it wrong

Precious Lord, take my hand
Without you I’ve got no chance to do this
You alone understand
How much I need your help to get through this

When reality’s more than my shoulders can bear
Lord, give me the grace to care the way that you care

When tasks go undone and I’m aching for sleep
When there’s not enough time and there’s no time for me

Precious Lord, take my hand
Without you I’ve got no chance to do this
You alone understand
How much I need your help to get through this
Precious Lord, take my hand
Without you I’ve got no chance to do this
You alone understand
How much I need your help to get through this
And when I don’t think I can
When I don’t think that I can
Precious Lord, take my hand

© Pirk Music BMI & Silerland Music ASCAP (Administered by the ClearBox Rights LLC)

I’m Gonna Lose You
Words & Music by Steve Siler

There’s no way to get ready for what’s coming
All I can do is love you well today
Some days I’m overwhelmed with whys and what ifs
And knowing things will never be the same
If you can read the grief behind my eyes
You know the pain I’m in
But you won’t hear me say the words out loud
I don’t want to admit

I’m gonna lose you
No matter how hard I try
You’re gonna leave me
There’s no way to get this right
Even if the care I give
is the best that I can do
When your race is through
I’m gonna lose you

Can’t imagine the world without you in it
There was a time when you seemed ten feet tall
It hurts to see your earthly frame diminish
When you used to run circles around us all
But I can feel you slippin’ away from me
We’re running out of time
And every moment I am with you now
is part of the goodbye

Repeat CHORUS

One day soon you’ll trade this world for heaven
You’ll lay your weary body down
And receive your crown

But…

Repeat CHORUS

© Silerland Music ASCAP (Administered by the ClearBox Rights LLC)

Twenty Three
Psalm 23

The Lord is My Shepherd
I shall not want
He makes me to lie down in green pastures
He leads me beside the still waters
He restores my soul
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake
Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
For you are with me
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
My cup runs over
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever

New King James Version

© Pirk Music BMI / Sony – ATV/ Songs from Exit 71 ASCAP / Silerland Music (Administered by ClearBox Rights LLC) ASCAP

When I Couldn’t Do It By Myself
Words & Music by Jeff Crossan

My father could not stand alone
I couldn’t lift him on my own
The time had finally come to make that call
They sent us James, a gentle man
I watched him shake my father’s hand
An answer to a prayer is what I saw

When I couldn’t do it by myself
When I knew I needed the strength of someone else
I was grateful to be blessed with two strong hands to help
When I couldn’t do it by myself

It was hard for me to face the truth
To change the bandage, dress the wound
Sometimes I wasn’t sure I’d done it right
When things went from bad to worse
Hospice sent my dad a nurse
Her name was Marge
She was a welcome sight

When I couldn’t do it by myself
When I knew I needed the skills of someone else
I was grateful to be blessed with two healing hands to help
When I couldn’t do it by myself

James would sit with my dad and talk
Give me the time to take a walk
Before too long he called my dad his buddy
And Marge brought ice cream sometimes in
Springsteen CDs, we both were fans
When I’d need a laugh she’d say something funny

As winter passed dad’s voice grew weak
Spring arrived, he could hardly speak
One day in May the sun set in his sky
I held his hand
I let him go
The tears that fell weren’t just my own
The three of us were there to say goodbye

When I couldn’t do it by myself
When I knew I needed the grace of someone else
I was grateful to be blessed with two loving hearts to help
When I couldn’t do it by myself

© Ninety Forty Ten Music ASCAP (Administered by ClearBox Rights, LLC)