Lyrics

When I look into your eyes
It’s like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there’s so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you’ve come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

Will I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up

And when you’re needing some space
To do some navigating
I’ll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find
‘Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We’ve got a lot to learn
God knows we’re worth it
No, I won’t give up

I don’t wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I’m here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you’re still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn’t break, we didn’t burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I’ve got, and what I’m not, and who I am

I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up, I’m still looking up

Well, I won’t give up on us
(No I’m not giving up)
God knows I’m tough enough
(I am tough, I am loved)
We’ve got a lot to learn
(We’re alive, we are loved)
God knows we’re worth it
(And we’re worth it)

I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up, I’m still looking up

Thoughts

Tonight at work I was listening to some music as I walked around in the cool summer breeze when an old song I haven’t heard in quite a while started playing. As you might have guessed by the conspicuous title, the song was I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz. I remember when it came out back in 2012 not being a huge fan. I’d always enjoyed Mraz’s music, but this one was a little too slow for my liking. Yet as I have gotten older I have a newer appreciation for it.

My lovely, gorgeous wife and I are about to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary next month and we’ve been together for two years beyond that. We’ve been together through good times and bad. I’ve been with her as she worked through her parents divorce, and she was with me as I worked through the anger I felt from never dealing with my father’s death. Over the last thirteen years we have spent nearly every day together learning more and more about each other. I know all of her cute little quirks, and she knows my obnoxious habits. We know each other’s views and ideas on the various aspects of life and parenting and even though we like very different genres of music and movies, we stand united on most things.

Yet as with every long-term relationship you eventually just know that person. The excitement and adventure of a new relationship fades into the steadiness of marriage. I’ve heard it likened to a fire, in which the wicking flames burn out and you are left with the steady burn of white coals and the spark of embers. The flame is beautiful and intoxicating. It is both intriguing and dangerous, but the coals that hold the heat under them sustain the heat long after the initial fuel has burned away.

Do we still have a desire for that old flame? Of course… I’m pretty sure most people feel that way at some point. Do we ever think about old flames? From time to time. Do other people ever catch our eye or trigger our curiosity? Yeah, because we’re human and it’s natural; but we know that God has built something beautiful in our lives and that what God has united no one can tear apart.

Underlying this message, and in the song, is the reality of the way that God loves us. “Even when we need some space to do some navigating” Jesus is always right there waiting for us to tell him about what we found. He won’t give up on us, even when the skies get rough. He’s giving us all of his love, and still looking up.

For any of you who may be sad or struggling with where you are in your relationships; if you’re struggling with the nostalgia of past relationships or that intriguing person at work, take this as an encouragement to press not give up. Your marriage is worth every argument and every boring moment. Ask God to show you your spouse as He sees them, to help you love greater than when you first met, and to focus on the fire under the coals, rather than the flame that has burned away.