he still loves me

The first time I watched this movie and heard this song, my dad was in prison for DUI or pulling a gun on my mom, I don't remember which.  At the time, even though the film version is way overproduced and digitally remastered sound-wise, I ran out and bought the CD for the soundtrack, hit repeat on this song.  That part where the prisoners come forward, about 2:50, did me in.  Tears of compassion and mercy and forgiveness and so on poured forth.  They still do.

The children have developed a penchant for [good] [black church] gospel music.  Something about a gospel choir, everyone singing full out, is just amazing.  The messages, simple ones of grace, endurance, and praise, are uplifting to our whole family.  I'm a classical music fan in general.  I do not claim to have eclectic tastes.  I don't like most of the noise I hear on the radio.  But gospel music has made its way, along with Celtic hymns, classic jazz, and classical music, into my heart and onto my playlist.  

Tonight, instead of dancing to the Beatles, we danced to a few gospel songs. This was one of them.  I thought of my dad, slowly turning to stone, and wept again.