How Sweet It Is.
I needed the shelter of someone's arms
And there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs
And there you were
With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you, baby
~ James Taylor, “How Sweet It Is”
the james taylor summer series, 3
Written by the legendary Motown team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, this song was first recorded by Marvin Gaye in 1964, but James’ recording a decade later became one of his bigger hits. No melancholy in this classic! This one is pure joy—a celebration of living life in “the shelter of someone’s arms.” Despite his own migration among several someone’s arms, the combination of feel-good lyrics and a swinging groove lightens every heart and makes your feet start to move.
In this summer of our collective discontent, we just need the soothing balm of songs like this every so often to remind ourselves that the act of belonging to another loving human is a profound demonstration of the Divine Spark. The one whose name is Love cannot be displaced or uprooted by social unrest, political disappointments, and senseless wars. In fact, it is the small daily choices for kindness and tenderness and devotion that function as an anchor to all that is good and holy in this world.
The lyrics urge us to pause and consider the simple things of life: “I close my eyes at night wondering where would I be without you in my life…. I just wanna stop and thank you baby. How sweet it is to be loved by you.” Take a fresh listen…
Love is never always easy, as any married person can tell you. In fact, to spend a lifetime with a single partner takes loads of character and a bit of luck. But part of the magic is speaking your love out loud, day after day, year after year, decade after decade. Frequently, eloquently (if possible), and passionately. To drift into another lyric, “When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted. When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one” (thank you Bryan Adams).
Today’s whimsical post is simple and powerful: Reflect upon the gifts of love planted in your life, and with gratitude, stop and thank someone. Today! Either in person, on the phone, or by letter, do it now.
finding our way home
As they say, home is where the heart is. Locate your heart today and express it.
takeaway
“It's like sugar sometimes.”