I’ve Been Here

Verse 1

I know where every fence post stands

Every field, every acre of land

I know which gate sticks when it rains

And which boards need to be replaced

I’ve been waking up before dawn

Keeping everything moving along

While he was out chasing whatever he chased

And somehow I’m the one who feels replaced

Pre-Chorus

Everybody’s laughing

Music through the open door

And I know I should be happy

But I don’t know anymore

Chorus

I’ve been here the whole time

Why does it feel like I’m outside?

Watching through a window

At a celebration that should feel like mine

Maybe that’s the problem

Maybe I’ve been counting what I’ve done

Thinking love was something earned

Instead of something freely given

I’ve been here the whole time

But maybe I’ve been missing home

Verse 2

I thought faithfulness meant keeping score

Who worked hardest, who gave more

I never said it out loud

But I carried it around

I built my value on being good

On doing everything I should

So when grace showed up for him

It felt like it was leaving me behind

Bridge

Then You said,

“Everything I have has always been yours.”

And suddenly the party

Wasn’t about what he received

It was about a father

Getting back a son he’d grieved

And maybe I’ve been standing

Just as far away as he had been

Final Chorus

I’ve been here the whole time

But now I see it with different eyes

The door was always open

I was the one standing outside

You never loved me less

When You welcomed him back in

The house got bigger

It didn’t lose a room for me

I’ve been here the whole time

Learning what Your love really means