I Hope You Dance

One of the many ways I have found to make Mr. Jace happy when he is sad is to turn on the radio, pick him up, and dance around the living room like a fool.  Yes, most of you parents have been there.  One recent experience was so powerfully emotional for me that I am still thinking about it.  Jace was in A MOOD.  Still can't pin exactly what was making him so crabby, but I turned on the radio.  It had actually been some time since I had to pull this trick out of my hat so it caught him off guard and he immediately stopped crying.  And I started!

Okay, well not immediately.  At first I was actually a little disappointed because I was all ready for aerobic exercise with a fast song that I could hop all over the room with and it was a slow song.  The song was "Held" by Natalie Grant.  If you haven't heard it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GDUBd2eWFw&feature=related

If you don't feel like listening to it, the song is about how God holds us during painful times, the first example being loosing a child.  Now, I have never lost a child, but the sheer thought can instantly flood me with tears and bring me to my knees.  Jace had no clue as to why mommy was crying, but I hugged him so close for the whole song, kissed him over and over and over and over again, and twirled and danced until we were both dizzy.  I kept thanking God for my sweet little crabby boy and my crazy busy big boy. My blessings.  God has blessed me incredibly and the thought of loosing them is so painful.  However, we are promised just as I hold my babies, God holds US.  We are safe in His arms and He hugs us close, kisses us over and over and over and over again, and twirls and dances with us.  With this realization, I couldn't stop the tears.  They just poured.  Until the next song.

The next song was actually "I refuse" by Josh Wilson.  Again, if you aren't familiar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B1Lv8k5pEc&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AVGxdCwVVULXdz9vHoGwoUI5keJVbEiFFa

The significance of this song struck me nearly as hard.  I had just been talking to C about this very song the day or two before.  Every time I hear this song on KTIS I feel challenged.  I wonder : Am I really following God's call on my life?  Am I making excuses in my life where I feel God's pull?  Do I really care?  The chorus goes,  " I don't wanna live like I don't care.  I don't wanna say another empty prayer.  Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else, to do what God has called me to do myself.  I could choose not to move.  But I refuse. "

I strongly believe that my dance session was meant for me, not Jace.  Jace was God's tool at the moment to get me to turn the radio on and listen.  Really listen.