A few weeks ago, 5-year-old Christian Oakes said to his father, “Hey, Dad, I’ve got a good song just for you.”
As Christian played the song, he would give his father a little smile. Brian was a little mystified because he had never heard the song before. He asked Christian where he had found the song, and the 5-year-old simply said, “Alexa plays it for me.” That, of course, didn’t explain anything.
As Brian listened to the song, he was struck by the lyrics. “You’re a good, good Father. It’s who you are, and I’m loved by you.” Brian was touched that his young son was playing such a sweet, poignant song about a son’s love for his father, but he was even more curious about how Christian had discovered it.
Brian has made an Amazon playlist for each of his four children. Whenever one of them asks for a song on a regular basis, he adds that song to their personal playlist. Then, when he’s just with that child, they have a ready-made set of songs to enjoy. His daughters—Ellie, Addie, and Penelope—each have one, and Christian has his, which is mostly filled with songs from Disney movies— “Thunderstruck” from Planes, and an occasional Bon Jovi hit.
One day, Brian followed Christian into his room and heard the child say, “Alexa, play Christian’s playlist.” Alexa started playing not the Amazon playlist created by Christian’s father, which isn’t available through Alexa, but rather a “Christian Playlist.” That list includes “Good, Good Father,” a contemporary Christian song curated by Alexa. Christian thought his father had added “Good, Good Father” to the list just for him. Brian wouldn’t tell him otherwise.
When Brian told me this story one day at Loyola University Maryland, where we are colleagues, I really liked that he has a playlist for each of his children. I also loved that Christian thought that his own personal playlist would be available anytime and anywhere he requested it. And I really enjoyed that he thought his dad knew him so well he would pick this song just knowing that he would like it.
As children, we recognize the love our fathers have for us. We believe they can do everything—and we know they would do anything for us. They mow lawns and drive cars and carry us high on their shoulders. They make pancakes on Saturday mornings and put together complicated toys on Christmas Eve and are experts with power tools. They take us on adventures and create playlists of our favorite songs. Many mothers do these things, too. But there is something special about fathers.
Even more extraordinary is God, our Father in heaven. He loves us deeply and fully as if we were the only person on earth. He knows and can do anything. He is larger than any problem we can encounter. And He could create a playlist for us that includes all our favorite songs and experiences and joys.
I like to think He works that into our day in a thousand different ways, making sure we feel the joy that is just a taste of the greater joy to come, and lovingly giving us signs that we are His.
You might also enjoy The Gift of a Banana Tree, which also features Brian.
Cover photo by Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas. Family photo provided by Brian Oakes.
Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media
