What happens when a woman, music giant, and mom doesn't listen to her own music? We have a funeral. Today is the day that Cissy Houston buries her daughter. I buried a son a few years back and believe me that is no easy task. Like Whitney my son lost a battle with personal demons that destroyed his self esteem. We don't know if Whitney took her own life yet or whether it was a tragic end to a life riddled with struggles against the power of addiction. My son took his own life.
I loved Whitney's talent. Unfortunately I did not know Whitney so I cannot say that I loved her as a person. I do know that during her marriage to Bobby Brown that life in Atlanta was always interesting when the Browns came home. Bobby created a huge problem for the security of several of the malls because he really did not get (or did not care about), the fact that his little groupies were everywhere and that he could not just go to a mall and have lunch int he food court without creating a security disaster. Whitney never came with him on these little outings and for that I am grateful. You see i worked in one of those malls and if Whitney Houston had made a trip to that mall unescorted and without advance notice to mall security I would have been unemployed really quickly because I would have had to meet her.
One reason this song means so much to me is that it spent it's time at number one on the charts during my very ugly divorce and very beautiful pregnancy with the very same son that has provided me with the ability to have empathy for Cissy Houston right now. The song was written by a wonderful woman that also lost her life, Linda Creed. Linda lost her life to breast cancer which she had battled for years. She died while Whitney's recording of the song was at the top of the charts. Her co-writer, Michael Masser, and Whitney herself had pushed hard, against the advice of Clive Davis, to have the song on Whitney's debut album.
For a song that she wanted to do so badly, one would hope that the message of hope found in Linda Creeds strong words of survival and passing on the strength of what we learn from adversity to the younger generation would have some influence on her own life. For many years it seemed to be that way. Then came the marriage to Bobby Brown, the drugs, and ....well the rest is history courtesy of every rag paper in the country as well as some of the legitimate ones(assuming there is such a news agency any more).
What happened? Did she not listen to her own songs? Could she not hear the strength of the words that Linda wrote and she sang? I don't know. However, What I do know is that when I was going through my own personal struggles it was Whitney's powerful voice and Linda's powerful words that gave me the strength to learn to love myself and discover The Greatest Love of All.
Thank You Linda and Whitney
Heaven's Choir gained a songwriter in 1986 and now it has it's soloist to sing her songs. Although we will miss you both being here to enrich our lives we understand that your work on earth is done and that your talents were required elsewhere. To Cissy Houston I say I know your grief my sister. To Bobbi Kristina I say, Sweetheart, your mom was two years younger than me when her demons took her from you. Please, listen to the song and don't let your mother's demons become yours and if they are already your demons then please get help. Please learn to love yourself enough to lay those demons to rest.
Linda's Powerful Lyrics as sung by Whitney
The Greatest Love of All
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfilled my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on me
[Chorus:]
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadow
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
[Chorus:]
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadow
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
And if by chance, that special place
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love
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