I Hope You Dance...just don't be a Dancing Monkey!

I know it is shocking to hear but there is this song that truly touches a parent's heart. The title is I Hope You Dance and the lyrics are beautiful. Here is just a taste:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

Even before I was a mom, I totally identified with this song. There were times in my life when I wish I had been more of a risk taker. I wish I had stood up for myself but then again sometimes I wish I could have just shut my mouth. Now Fast forward about 15 years...I was reading a new Bible Study book by an amazing speaker, Jen Hatmaker. (On a side note, she was phenomenal at our Women's Retreat and I highly recommend her!) The title of the book is MakeOver and my dear friend Daneen bought it for me over a year ago and I just have not had the time to read it.

A few weeks ago, I stopped by to ask my friend Tracie to pray for me. When she asked what about, I expressed some feelings of "overwhelment" and frustration of an inability to say no. I found myself not being able to do the things I really enjoy because of things I commit to out of a desire to feel accepted and needed. (Anyway, that is a whole different counseling session.) Tracie prayed over me and then recommended this book to me. So, I made the time and began reading.

Let me just say, Thank God for friends that buy you books a year before you will need them and friends that bring something to mind!!!

The title of one particular chapter is Dancing Monkeys. It talks about all the ways we "dance" for people in our lives for just the reasons I mentioned earlier.

There are times we dance for our parents...

Times we dance for our family...

Let's be honest though, whenever we dance and whoever we dance for, we end up tired!!! Makeover quotes a verse in Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Wow! I just love that. That verse tells me that in all we do, God never intends for us to grow weary...he wants us to run...to HIM but not grow faint.

All of that being said, I do hope that Curly and Moe (and all those I love for that matter) Dance but never, ever become Dancing Monkeys.

That is unless it causes somebody to give a good, heartfelt belly laugh...and then I guess it's okay!!

Peace Out!