I recently watched “Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys.”
The movie is about two women from different walks of life who remain friends even though greed and scandal is tearing their families apart.
At one point while the drama is escalating, the women decide to travel like “Thelma and Louise” (or “Oprah and Gayle” as they say in the movie). They hop in a classic Cadillac and head west. And during the trip, they hear a song on the radio. It’s a song with a message that plays a crucial role in the remainder of the film. It’s called “I Hope You Dance.”
As I listened to the words, I started to think about the importance of dancing. Not the dancing that you do on evenings out with friends, at weddings…or even in the living room with your spouse. Dancing in life.
But what does that really mean?
No doubt life has its ups and downs. And there’s a decision to make at every turn. But it’s all about how we maneuver ourselves through the “stuff” we have to deal with each day.
The dictionary defines dancing as moving or seeming to move up and down or about in a quick or lively manner.
After reading that…the light bulb turned on in my head. I figured it out.
The keywords are quick and lively.
In life, we move in a quick or lively manner when remain optimistic as we learn from mistakes and gain understanding from our experiences. We have to let go of the hurt, anger, bitterness, and fear that latches onto us when we are down….and hold onto joy and faith. Our joy and faith can carry us through everything. They can lift us out of the valleys in our lives or carry us to the mountaintops. And it all keeps us light on our feet. In other words…dancing.
If you ever watch a good dancer, they seem to have a connection with the music. The beat guides them, and there are no worries about how they look or the next step. They don’t have any other cares in the world.
We have to be like that. We have to dance. And we have to let God be our DJ.
Because when we do…we can leave our worries behind, we can truly engage, and we can take risks.
So do you dance? I hope you do.
I didn’t do much studying, growing up.
When it came time to take tests in school, I relied on how well I took notes and processed the information when it was taught.
And I must say…I was an impeccable note-taker.
Not because I never made mistakes or misheard anything.
But because I covered up the evidence.
I would re-write an entire page of notes if I thought I put information in the wrong place. I didn’t really want to, but the thought of something being disorganized made me cringe. So for a while, you could say a pencil with a good eraser was my best friend.
You could’ve called me an overachiever with OCD, and I probably wouldn’t have disagreed. I was obsessed with staying organized and sticking to plans. My bedroom as a child was filled with storage units. And everywhere you looked, there were labeled binders, color-coordinated folders, and dividers.
Fun for me was buying school supplies and organizing them in my bookbag before classes started.
Fun for me was sorting through my parent’s mail when it the pile of envelopes on their desk got too high.
Fun for me was re-designing my closet.
I was obsessed. I had to have a plan and a place for everything.
I guess you could say I was trying to control what I could in my little world, and avoid chaos at all costs. But that was so ironic, considering, the reality around me was pure dysfunction.
There was a lot of disrespect and disloyalty, and it all created a state of disorder.
All I wanted to do was plan my future and a permanent escape from that type of environment.
My planning worked for a while. It got me through college and into my first “real” job. Then God showed me that my plans won’t always come to fruition. And if they do, they won’t always come when I’m expecting them.
In the Bible, it says,
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
These verses allowed me to see that God wants nothing but the best for me. And He knows what must happen to accomplish that.
A great example of this is when I met my husband. I met him at a time when I wasn’t necessarily looking for a husband, but after a year of friendship and a three week courtship, I knew he was “the one.” He wasn’t in my plans and, at that time, I thought a whirlwind romance would throw my life out of order, but he was exactly what I needed.
He’s taught me how to love.
He’s taught me how to trust.
He’s taught how to be happy with a life that’s not perfect.
And now, I don’t fear things that appear out of order…because I know they are all a part of God’s plan.
I love Christmas music.
In fact, it’s always been my favorite thing about the holiday season. From the choral arrangements to the familiar tunes, each song has a story. One that consistently brings me back to a place filled with peace…a place where things are good.
As a child, I remember waking up Christmas morning to the sounds of the Temptations singing “Silent Night” or Mariah Carey belting “Joy to the World” and “O’ Holy Night.”
Then in school, I would load onto a bus with other choir members and spend days performing in local malls, the lobbies of corporate office buildings, and even the Biltmore House. We’d pass the time by singing “The First Noel,” “Carol of the Bells,” or any other song we could think of at the moment…in front of anyone who would listen. And when performance time came, we’d pay homage to the “Messiah,” singing “And the Glory of the Lord” and “Hallelujah!”
I felt joy.
I felt joy within, knowing what each song meant and what Christmas meant to me.
I let the music take me to a place where I could celebrate the goodness in the world, and its savior.
And now, I’m creating more musical memories with my husband and my new extended family.
That’s because my father in-law just finished a Christmas jazz album.
It’s called “The Gift” by JAZZSMITH featuring Benjamin Hampton. I’ve been listening to the album, remembering old favorites, and appreciating the message he brings through new songs he’s written and arranged himself. You should check it out!
Afterall, there’s nothing like Christmas music to get you in the holiday spirit.
So…what are your favorite Christmas songs?
Here are my top five favorites:
5. Mary, Did You Know?
4. O Come, All Ye Faithful
3. What Child Is This?
2. Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)
1. O Holy Night
