I’ve read the story
I’ve seen the movie
I give to charity
And tithe my ten percent
These I remember
But I so easily forget
All these years never heard it like this
It should’ve been me
It should’ve been us
Should’ve been there hanging on a cross
All of this shame
All of these scars
Should’ve been stains that were never washed
Why do I hide
Why do You try
Over and over and over again
I guess it just leaves me saying thank God
It leaves me saying thank God, thank God
For the should’ve been
I live a good life
I love a great wife
Our kids are beautiful
We got friends down the street
If I’m so thankful
Why do I easily forget
That You died for all of this
For this heart You changed
This soul You raised
My God for taking my place
Written by Ben Calhoun ~ Performed by Citizens Way
* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *
“If I’m so thankful, why do I easily forget?’”
That question goes straight through my heart. Oh, around Easter—I don’t forget. But the rest of the year…it can be hit or miss. How could I ever forget it should have been me? That my sins nailed Christ to the cross? How could I possibly take that for granted?
This song is my reminder. It reminds me —
- He was handed over to die because of our <MY> sins, and He was raised to life to make us <ME> right with God. Romans 4:25 NLT
- God proves His own love for us <ME> in that while we <I> were still sinners, Christ died for us <ME>! Romans 5:8 HCSB
- For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our <MY> sin, so that we <I> could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
- And He Himself bore our <MY> sins in His body on the cross, so that we <I> might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you <I> were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 NASB
Take a minute and read back through those Scriptures substituting your name for the <pronouns>. Makes it much more real and personal when you do that, doesn’t it?
As I was typing this, I kept thinking about the first two verses of the “Roman Road” I learned growing up….
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 3:23 HCSB
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 HCSB
It really should have been me. It REALLY should have been me! The shame, the scars, the stains should have been mine. How could I forget to thank God for the ‘should have been’? Instead of being forgetful, let me make this my refrain:
“For this heart You changed
This soul You raised
My God for taking my place
It leaves me saying thank God
For the should’ve been”
* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *
Lord, thank You for Your never-ending mercy and grace. Thank You for trying over and over again, especially when I become forgetful. Most of all thank You for taking my place. It should have been me. In Your precious name I pray – Amen, it is so!
Yes, Cynda, it should have been me. I’m joining you in thanking God for “His never-ending mercy and grace.”
Thanks Clella!
“I guess it just leaves me saying thank God
It leaves me saying thank God, thank God
For the should’ve been” ~ ME. Thank you, God, for covering me! Thank you, Cynda, for this great word and one of my favorite songs!