My favorite song

An anthem for grace and gratitude.

Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

The chorus speaks to my soul.

“If I ever took a loss, I learned a lesson.
“I won’t ever think I’m better than the next man.
“I’ve been down before the come up, I ain’t stressin’.
“Baby I’m too busy countin’ all these blessings.”

The snappy stanza is chock-full of sage substance. Each line delivers powerful pearls of wisdom that form words to live by. But my mentality mirrored the uplifting lyrics long before I came across the composition.

It’s the hit song “Blessings” by Christian rapper Lecrae, featuring singer Ty Dolla $ign. It was released in January 2017, the second single off Lecrae’s eighth studio album, “All Things Work Together.”

For nearly seven years, it’s been my favorite song.

But to understand the song’s meaning to me, you first must understand where I was when it debuted.

At that time, I was separated from my daughter Parker and her mother, speeding down the highway to divorce. I was in Oklahoma. They were in Illinois. Our nearly two-year separation sealed the dissolution of my marriage. It brought about my move to Chicago in October 2017, forcing me to leave family and friends, loved ones and the life I had spent the past dozen years crafting.

It was the worst time of my life. I mean, there were some really dark days. I was stressed, confused and ashamed. I gained weight. I went broke and racked up debt. I became a functional alcoholic. I wasn’t broken, but I didn’t operate anywhere close to my highest frequency.

But I was never not thankful. No matter what, I powered through each day and still put on a smile. Lecrae then came along and masterfully rhymed lyrics that summed up my exact sentiments.

I’m sincere when I tell you I have true joy. I’m not messing around when I say I’m at peace. But with a banger in “Blessings,” I was blessed with an anthem for grace and gratitude.

“If you woke up this morning, it’s a blessing!” Ty Dolla $ign sings.

My late grandmother, Mary, with 16 of her grandchildren, my brothers and cousins. Our family is one of our biggest blessings.

I still get emotional when I listen. It happened again Thanksgiving night as I played the song preparing to write this column. It’s a touching record that perfectly mixes profound lyrics over a mellow but base-filled beat.

Lecrae, a Houston native and two-time Grammy winner, recounts a classic rags-to-riches route. He does so graciously, seemingly weaving in his wealth only to give praise and paint the ultimate picture of life’s possibilities.

“I remember pushin’ mama’s little white Hyundai with no gas money.

“I just bought a car, cash money.

“I ain’t even tryin’ to brag on it.”

Earlier in that same opening verse, Lecrae gives God the glory.

“Won’t take that credit, I know where we get it.

“Them blessings be comin’ from God above.”

My favorite rappers, most of them commercial successes many of you know and perhaps love, never supply such material, certainly not in the same way. Lecrae and Ty Dolla $ign crafted a classic without using a single curse word. That the record is void of vulgarities, in line with the Christian hip-hop genre, makes me love the song more.

But I relate because I’ve long been too blessed to be stressed.

My life is good. I said it on Thanksgiving. It bears repeating for emphasis after the holiday. I lack nothing. I am grateful for everything. That has as much to do with my mindset as it does with my bank account.

I could stew over the not-so-good stuff that happens to me. But that’s a slippery slope that, if left unchecked, could lead to a life of self-pity. No thanks. Instead, I choose to have a healthier mindset. And it’s a daily decision. But it’s much better to carry an attitude of gratitude. I’ve had too many blessings to do anything else.

I’m healthy, which is most important. Parker is as well. I have a loving family and supportive friends. I know my purpose. I am content. I’ve loved and have lost but have found love again. I landed my dream job. I graduated from college — with no student loan debt! And I’ve traveled the country and the world.

My blessings far outweigh my curses, which essentially have been limited to humble beginnings, fatherlessness and divorce.

I refuse to let them define or discourage me.

Then an inspiring anthem came along as a reminder. It’s like one of those classic movies you can’t turn off once it’s on. I can never not listen to “Blessings.”

But of all the important lines in the song, there’s one I want Parker to pay close attention to and carry with her through her life.

It’s a seven-word bar that spells out our blessings and serves as a basic guide for gratitude.

“All we need is all we got!”