Nichole Nordeman - Dear Me Lyrics
Lyrics
Dear Me
This is a letter to the girl I used to be
Dear Me
There are some things that you should know
It's not my intention to embarrass or to shame you
What's inside the rear-view mirror is closer than it appears
We do the best that we know how, with what we have been given
And the difference between you and I is, I've been given time
In time, you'll see
Dear Me
This is a letter to the girl I used to be
Some things are not as simple as we said
Remember when we thought there were a handful of some magic words to pray
A guarantee and a down payment on a mansion
Remember all the rules we made about the Body and the Blood
The hoops we made them jump through
Though He offers it to everyone
I'm so sorry
Do you remember now the things I said I thought that I deserved
My flag, and safety, a place to learn
The things I know I didn't earn
And bless their hearts, I'm sure it's hard
But handouts don't help anyone
And all the talk about the system
I sure hope someone can fix them
I said those things
Dear Me
This is a letter to the girl I used to be
You'll see, you're gonna take the long way
And there is nothing you could do or say to separate you
From the love of God who made you just exactly as He meant to
And you cannot imagine all the places you'll see Jesus
But you'll find Him everywhere you thought He wasn't supposed to go
So, go!.. Go!..
And hold all the mothers, whose babies bleed from bullet holes
And feel all the hunger, the bellies and the bones
Shout for the prisoner, cry for justice, loud and long
And march with the victims, as Jesus marches on
And sit at all the tables, 'cause Jesus eats with everyone
And dance to the music, if you can't sing its native tongue
And cry for the wombs, the mothers and the empty arms
And hold high the warriors, fighting now for freedoms' song
And love, love, love, love
Like it's your own blood
And love, love, love, love
As you have been loved
Love, love, love, love
Like it's your own blood
Love, love, love, love
As you have been loved
Love, love, love, love, love
Like you have been
Love, love, love, love, love
It's all about love!
Love, love, love, love, love
His name is love
Love, love, love, love, love
Dear Me
You did not learn this in a day or two or three
So ask a lot of questions
But Jesus loves us, this I know
And there are no exceptions
Video
Nichole Nordeman - Dear Me (Official Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Nichole Nordeman's "Dear Me," released as part of her 2017 album *Every Mile Mattered*, is a profound and unflinching letter to her past self, a testament to growth, humility, and the evolving understanding of faith. The song’s strength lies not in intricate melodies but in its raw, honest narrative, which unfolds like a spiritual autobiography. Nordeman candidly addresses the younger woman she once was, acknowledging the naivete and rigid expectations that shaped her early beliefs. The opening stanzas set a tone of gentle correction, recognizing that "what's inside the rear-view mirror is closer than it appears," a poignant reminder that our past selves are never truly distant. She extends grace, stating, "We do the best that we know how, with what we have been given," echoing the sentiment in Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The crucial difference, she notes, is the gift of time and experience, which allows for a deeper comprehension of God's boundless love and His intricate plan.
The lyrics then delve into specific areas of youthful misunderstanding, particularly concerning prayer and religious practice. Nordeman recalls a time when she believed in a simple, formulaic approach to faith, seeking "magic words to pray" and expecting a guaranteed outcome. This reflects a common tendency to view God as a vending machine, where adherence to rules yields predictable blessings. The song’s exploration of "the rules we made about the Body and the Blood" and the hoops individuals were made to jump through highlights a potential for religious communities to inadvertently create barriers rather than bridges to divine grace. The realization that "He offers it to everyone" is a significant turning point, aligning with Jesus' own teachings about God’s impartial love, as seen in Matthew 5:45 where He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good.
A significant part of Nordeman's introspection concerns her past sense of entitlement and her judgmental observations of the world. She confesses to feeling she "deserved" certain comforts and safety, and to making pronouncements about societal issues ("all the talk about the system") without fully grasping the complexities. Her acknowledgment that "handouts don't help anyone" signifies a maturation of perspective, moving from simplistic pronouncements to a more nuanced understanding of true support and systemic challenges. This self-awareness resonates with the prophetic calls for justice and compassion found throughout Scripture, where the prophets often confronted the complacency and self-righteousness of their people.
The song's climax is its most inspiring and scripturally rich section. Nordeman assures her past self that she will "take the long way," a journey that leads to an expanded understanding of God's presence. She affirms an unwavering truth: "there is nothing you could do or say to separate you from the love of God who made you just exactly as He meant to." This powerful declaration directly mirrors Romans 8:38-39, which assures believers that "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." The song then boldly proclaims that Jesus is found "everywhere you thought He wasn't supposed to go," a radical concept that challenges any narrow definition of where God's grace and presence can be encountered. This speaks to the inclusive nature of Christ's ministry, as He consistently sought out the marginalized and the outcast, dining with sinners and tax collectors (Matthew 9:10-13).
The latter half of "Dear Me" transforms into an anthem of active, embodied love and justice, directly inspired by the teachings and example of Jesus. Nordeman urges her listeners to "hold all the mothers, whose babies bleed from bullet holes," to "feel all the hunger," and to "shout for the prisoner, cry for justice." This impassioned plea echoes the biblical mandate to care for the vulnerable, to advocate for the oppressed, and to seek righteousness. Verses like Isaiah 1:17, "Learn to do right; seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow," find a modern voice in Nordeman’s lyrics. The call to "sit at all the tables, 'cause Jesus eats with everyone" is a direct reflection of Christ’s revolutionary inclusivity, demonstrating that God’s kingdom is open to all regardless of social standing or past mistakes. The recurring refrain, "love, love, love, love," not as a fleeting emotion but as an essential action, "like it's your own blood," and recognizing that we are called to love "as you have been loved," distills the essence of the Gospel. John 13:34-35 states, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." The song concludes with a reminder that this profound understanding of love is not instantaneous but a lifelong process of asking questions and embracing the truth that "Jesus loves us, this I know, and there are no exceptions." This final affirmation powerfully reiterates the universal scope of God's grace, a message of hope and unconditional acceptance that is the very heart of Christian teaching.