Of goodness and gratitude

American Idol’s Stefano Langone amazed me with his performance of “I Need You Now”. When he was asked to sing, it was his chance to be picked as a wildcard. He sang it with such passion that I headed over to YouTube and started listening to Smokie Norful songs. They are all so inspiring. Thank you Stefano Langone for introducing me to Smokie Norful’s music! I haven’t appreciated gospel music as much as I do now.

There are a lot of songs that are about enjoying the moment, making the most out of your life or being thankful for what you have. Smokie Norful’s “Um Good” is one of them, but the best one for me right now. The song connected with me so much because I’ve been feeling that there are some things I cannot do because I have to attend to other obligations, or perhaps there are certain dreams that may just realistically not be fulfilled. Ugh, I know it’s a bit pessimistic but hey, you know how it is when there are days that just get you down. Today is one of those days. Thank god for the healing power of music.

“Um Good”‘s melody is just haunting and its lyrics caught my heart. “If I never visit Paris and enjoy that midday sun / If I never sail the seven seas before my work out here is done, oh / If I never see the ruins of that city that they call ancient Rome / I’m not worried because I can still say God I know that you, you been good…” I was like, wait, what? I know what he’s talking about! I know that feeling!

This song just put things in perspective for me. Let me share it with you.

Smokie Norful – Um Good

Um Good
— Smokie Norful

Ummmmm you been good
If I never own a mansion
Way out on the hills
I’ll never see riches
Lord I’ll serve you still
If I lose all my possessions
And my health begins to fail
I can still say you’ve been good

If I wake up on tomorrow
Find that all of my love ones are gone
Look around and see that my friends are few
I’ll still keep holding on
If I call and there’s no answer
In the midst of my despair
I can still say Lord you been good

You been good oh yeah
Good, umm good
So as long as I live I’ll tell the world God is good yeah oh
Good, ummm good
I’m so glad to say right now
God is good

If I never visit Paris and enjoy that midday sun
If I never sail the seven seas
Before my work out here is done, oh
If I never see the ruins
Of that city that they call ancient Rome
I’m not worried because I can still say God I know that you you been good
Lord you been good
Good, um good
As long as long as long as I live I’m going to tell the world that God is good
Lord you been good
Good, umm good
God is good

Good, umm good
Lord you been good
Good, umm good
So glad to say, God is
So glad to say, God is
So glad to say God is good

I’m glad to say you been good.

So… yeah. Thank you God for the blessings that I have. You’ve been good. You are good.

Hi! I'm Toni Tiu, and I've been blogging at at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.