A Song for Those Hurt by Others' Words

Containing all my best love and advice for my children.

This month’s theme is:

Replacing Lies with the Truth.

Go Home

“Go home to America,” the kids in our host country said to my favorite people in the world. I wanted to rescue my kids immediately, but God said no, and we began a wonderful time of learning to love our enemies and forgive. It took two years of hard work, but my children were accepted by our community. Now they are the “big kids” that the little ones hide behind, the ones translating the rules of games so that everyone has something to do other than throwing rocks. We are “in.”

Then, this summer, we had a furlough.

“Go back home to Africa,” an American kid said to my kids, during a church campout. It hurt. But he didn’t really know them, afterall. He was mad because he hadn’t won a race, and said whatever came to mind.

After furlough, we returned to our host country. That’s when a fellow TCK unknowingly chimed in:

“You should just go back to America.”

That’s when I knew this is war. The devil is trying hard to implant the thought in my children’s minds that they don’t belong, and I am so not okay with that.

So I exposed the lie—I pointed out that Satan is trying to give them this same message from many avenues so that it looks true, but they have to take their thoughts captive to Christ and not believe the lies. I reminded them that they are loved, enjoyed, and wanted, by many, and especially by God.

We had many talks and prayers together. But I just couldn’t say what had to be said without a song.

It’s called, “When You Choose to Walk with the Lord.” It’s raw and unplugged, due to my elementary piano playing, recent head cold, and the guinea hens squeaking the background. But if you’ve ever been hurt by people’s words, or believed lies, I hope it will be what you needed to hear today, too.

When You Choose to Walk With the Lord

by Abigail Follows

You’re gonna meet some people troubled from the ground up to the mind

They’re gonna say things to hurt you, but you just gotta get up and walk on by.

I wish I could tell you that the world will always love you, but it hated Him first.

And I wish I could tell you goodness is a thing that is easy to find, but you’ll have to search.

Child, all I can tell you is: you will never walk alone, when you choose to walk with the Lord.

You’re gonna meet some people who think they really know how to live a life.

They’ll make sin look sweet as honey, but you just gotta get up and walk on by.

I wish I could tell you that the world will always want the best for you

But that’s not the truth.

I wish I could tell you goodness is a thing you don’t have to protect, but the truth is, you do.

Child, all I can tell you is: You will never walk alone, when you choose to walk with the Lord.

You’re gonna meet yourself someday, and realize you need His grace

Yes, you’re gonna fall and it’s gonna grieve you, but you just gotta get up and walk in faith.

I wish I could tell you it’s just you—and not your enemies—who God wants to save.

I wish I could tell you forgiveness is a thing that is easy to do, but I know what it takes.

Child, all I can tell you is: you will never walk alone, when you choose to walk with the Lord.

Child, all I can tell you is: you will never walk alone

When you choose to walk with the Lord.

Copyright © 2023, Abigail Follows