feat. The Heartfelt Digital Ensemble
The Story Behind “You Showed Me Love”
Over my life, including in my many years of pastoral ministry, I've known men and women for whom this song's story has essentially been a personal experience. There are countless others worldwide for whom this has been, or still is, a reality. The general theme and words of this song stayed in my mind and heart for months and then finally came together for me in this song that I wrote in 2014 using my guitar at my Houston home at that time.
This song is the story of a man representing so many who have had a life of loneliness, with untrusting despair and bitterness, followed by the reality of finding joy and rescue through the genuine God-sent love in His time and wonderful way. He found true love and was no longer the man he used to be, saying in conclusion, "I can love today all because you loved me."
— Terry Parks
Lyrics
Wandering through my life for all those years I missed it
Livin' in loneliness, hearing cruel lies every day
And the few I knew who said they'd be there for me
Left me standin' in the rain and walked away
I heard those easy love words from well-meaning people
And there was someone once who vowed to me she cared
But all those empty words soon vanished in the darkness
I gave up hope of finding love, I never dared
Then you showed me love, showed me real love
You didn't just say that word, you proved it constantly
You showed me love like I dreamed of
Before you came I never knew real love could be
And just knowing you, you'd never think the world seems heartless
You couldn't imagine the kind of world that I lived in
In pain and bitterness I built high walls around me
I swore to myself I'd never trust again
But I bless the day you walked into my life so gently
With your sweet tenderness you gave your heart to me
And for the first time I could see a glimpse of heaven
I'm certain God sent you my way to rescue me
You showed me love, your faithful love
Your love unlocked my chains, you've set this prisoner free
You showed me love like I dreamed of
Though I was hard on you, you didn't give up on me
So now I've found love, I've learned to love
And I will never be that man I used to be
Since you showed me love, I know true love
I'm sure that love is real, for your love has set me free
And I can love today all because you loved me
