You said you couldn't keep me when you were seventeen
Too young to be a father
You kissed my hand and took your leave
And you taught me how to make believe
Make believe I was a gift to you from heaven
Make believe that you would take me as your own
Make believe that you would set the mark of what a man should be
You taught me how to make believe
And now that I've grown older
I long for us to meet
I have a million questions
But most of all I want to see
If all of it was make believe
Another year has come and gone
I am living with your family
And I feel right at home
In the place where I always wanted to be
I'm going out this evening
I check the mirror twice
You stop me on the staircase
You kiss my hand and say that I look beautiful tonight
And I believe I was a gift to you from heaven
And I believe that you would take me as your own
I believe that you set the mark of what a man should be
Now I don't have to make believe
"Make Believe" by JJ Heller is a heartfelt song that explores the themes of longing, belonging, and the power of imagination. The lyrics tell the story of a young girl who is abandoned by her father at a young age but finds solace in the art of make-believe. Through her imagination, she creates a world where her father is present and loving, filling the void in her heart.
The song begins with the girl reflecting on her father's decision to leave when she was just seventeen. At that young age, she was deemed too young to be a mother, and her father made the difficult choice to walk away. This abandonment left a lasting impact on her, and she learned to cope by immersing herself in make-believe.
The concept of make-believe is a powerful one. It allows us to escape reality and create a world where our deepest desires and dreams can come true. In the case of the girl in the song, make-believe becomes a coping mechanism for the pain of her father's absence. She imagines a reality where her father accepts her as his own and sets the standard for what a loving and responsible man should be.
As Christians, we can relate to the theme of make-believe in a spiritual sense. In our walk with God, we are called to have childlike faith and imagination. Jesus Himself encouraged His disciples to have faith like children, as they have the capacity to believe in the unseen and trust in the goodness of God (Matthew 18:2-4). In our spiritual journey, we often have to imagine a world where God's promises are fulfilled, even when our circumstances may suggest otherwise.
The song also highlights the longing for connection and belonging. The girl in the song grows up longing for a relationship with her father. She yearns to meet him, to ask him questions, and to see if the love she imagined was real or merely make-believe. This longing for connection is something that resonates with many of us, as we all desire to be loved and accepted by our earthly fathers and ultimately by our Heavenly Father.
Scripture verses that relate to the theme of the song include Psalm 27:10, which says, "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." This verse reassures us that even when our earthly fathers fail us, God is there to embrace us with His unfailing love. Another relevant verse is Romans 8:15, which speaks of our identity as children of God and the assurance that we have received the Spirit of adoption. It reminds us that we are not alone; we have been chosen and loved by our Heavenly Father.
"Make Believe" by JJ Heller is a poignant song that explores the power of imagination, the longing for connection, and the importance of faith. Through the art of make-believe, the song reminds us that even in the midst of pain and abandonment, we can find solace and hope. Our imagination can help us envision a world where our deepest longings are fulfilled, and our faith can sustain us as we trust in the love and acceptance of our Heavenly Father.
