I had the opportunity of seeing the movie “I Can Only Imagine” not long ago. I have heard the Christian song many times over the airwaves, in church, at funerals, and other venues. It is a tremendous song; however, I had never put much thought into how it came to be.
The movie enlightened me as to how and why this song came to be. It was written by Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe. It told of his life and how he endured abuse from his father as a child, went through THE divorce of his parents and his mom leaving him with his abusive father. He endured continued criticism during his high school years and shut people out of his life the same as his father did.
At a young age Millard went to a church camp and became a Christian with his acceptance of Jesus. He also befriended a young lady that never gave up on him and eventually became his wife.
Even through all the difficulties and trauma his father put him through the young Millard never lost sight of his Christian beliefs and tried to bring his father to Christ also. It wasn’t until Millard was on his own and started singing with the Christian group that the elder Millard began to realize what he had lost. He started reading the Bible and listening to Christian speakers and eventually turned his life to Christ. During this same time Bart came to love his earthly father and lived with him once again.
After Bart’s dad passed away to an unforgiving cancer he was able to review his notes of years gone by and penned the song “I Can Only Imagine.”
There are so many in the world today that have nightmares because of the criticism and abuse suffered during their younger years. Millard suffered himself by pushing his friends away. Some have had the courage to overcome these problems with the help of Christian counseling, friends, and family; however, some cannot and will likely pass on the same problems he or she endured to their children also.
Children learn from their parents. It is my wish that all parents would realize this and nurture their children to be God-fearing and teach them love with Christian values and outlook. I remember one mother, a former classmate of mine that has gone home to be with the Lord, was honored greatly with a few words from her daughter in her mother’s obituary when she said: “Mom was and is the standard of goodness I hope someday to be. Thank you for seeing that in her as well.”
In his great song Mark Millard first verse said: “I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk, by your side, I can only imagine what my eyes will see, when your face is before me, I can only imagine, I can only imagine.”
Before his father’s death Millard made amends with his father because his earthly father found Jesus and apologized to his son for the way he used to be. Millard stayed home with him until he went home to be with the Lord. Millard found solace and forgiveness through his song and wondered how it will be when we go home to be Him. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 is a great passage that all of us parents and children should remember and use; “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”(NIV)
