Steven Curtis Chapman’s New Song Honors Moms Who Quietly Change the World
Steven Curtis Chapman believes moms have a unique gift to offer the world. As he puts it, they're busy yet fully present -- constantly on the go while still offering kindness, love, and compassion for the person in front of them. So Chapman did what any great artist would do. He wrote a song about the grace and steadfast love of his own mother, Judy Chapman, titled Speed of Love. A lyric video with photos of him and his mother, along with pictures and videos of other moms submitted by fans, was released May 1.
The song hit platforms just in time for Mother's Day -- but as Chapman is quick to point out, it is a heartfelt tribute appropriate for any time of the year.
His mom is 83.
"She is a beauty. She's such a sweet lady," Chapman told Crosswalk Headlines.
The song describes his mother's life of love -- her service at a local kitchen, her gentle presence in a flower shop, and her warm conversations with neighbors. The track begins: "She gets up at 6 in the morning and drives to the kitchen, where the hungry hearts … gather; she'll fill your plate and say a kind word, and look you in the eye and make you believe you … matter; and all the while the world goes rushing by, but she just smiles and goes on living life; at the speed … of love."
"The speed of love is not necessarily slow and chill, because there's nobody who works harder [than moms]," Chapman said. "It is living intentionally, and it's living with the sense of the person in front of me right now is a wonder, a miracle. [It's] living in a way that is looking for those opportunities to tell somebody you're not alone -- not only do I care, but ultimately, there's a God who created you and made you who cares about you and cares for you."
At its core, the song celebrates humble service -- the type that quietly changes the world. Its closing lyrics declare: "You're never gonna read about her in the headlines; safe to say the world will never know her name; but I believe we're gonna find when we meet at the finish line; just how much the world was changed; by the ones who chose to run this race; at the speed … of love."
Chapman called it a "story song" that came together easily. He hopes her life inspires fans.
"She battled cancer about 25 years ago, pretty intensely, a lot of treatment, and by God's grace and goodness, she's still with us," he said. "She is an Energizer bunny. Back about a year ago, around the time that I was probably writing this song, thinking about this song, she had a return of the cancer -- thankfully, by God's grace, again, she has really not had to do any treatment.
"But my mom just keeps plowing ahead. She goes to a community kitchen -- one of her greatest joys in life is just going and serving up a plate of food and a kind word to people, and she talks about it. There's so much joy in that for her. She's always stopping to visit a friend. She works at a little flower shop. And there's so much about her life that was inspiring as I thought about this thing of trying to really be intentional about the speed that I live my life at."
WATCH: Steven Curtis Chapman - Speed of Love (Official Lyric Video)
Photo Credit: Left: ©Provident Right: ©Facebook/Steven Curtis Chapman
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published May 09, 2025.
