The Dance, It has not ended.... It just began.

I have been a dancer since I was two years old. My Granny made sure of it. It just so happens that I loved it! I danced for a total of 19 years for a studio and longer if you count dancing around the house. I still think of myself as a dancer but I am not performing anymore. I do go to jazzercise 3 times a week now (and that is dancing). When I became pregnant with Evelyn it was a rough pregnancy simply because of morning sickness and the flu. It drained me of all energy and I quit teaching. I remember being so devastated that I stopped. Then I got pregnant with Jonathan and he came at 24 weeks. We were so lucky to have him for those 4 days. For 4 days I got to shower my son with love. And now I get to wait to be with him in the presence of God to praise our Savior together. Jonathan taught me the meaning of enjoying every moment. He was so small but his little fingers would hold my finger when I touched him and it touched my heart because he knew who his mommy was! His stats would improve just at the sound of my voice. It was then I realized that motherhood was a dance. It is the best dance I will ever perform next to my dance for Jesus. And I also realized living this life for Jesus is the best dance. Your movements and actions are watched by a lot of people. You have two choices. Glorify God in all you do, in all your movements or... move like the rest of the world.

As an instructor, choreography was part of my job. I loved to create dances of praise for God. It was the only way I truly knew how to be connected to God back in those days. I thought it was the only thing good I had to offer Him. (Though God has called me to do much more). And no matter how many times we rehearsed the choreography for a dance, one of my students would always make a mistake. But from their mistakes they would usually learn from it and the dance would improve.

When we obey God's Word we are matching His wonderful choreography, better choreography than any instructor could manage. Yes, we will mess up but He will be there to help you like a good teacher would help you understand your missed steps in the dance. I remember Ms. Diana would patiently help me time and time again. I don't think she expected perfection but I think she expected my best. God expects us to try our best to follow Him. He knows we are going to stumble but it is how we respond to our failures that He is looking at. With my students I focused on their heart before I focused on their form. If their love for the dance was there the form would follow. I wanted all my students to have that same joy when it came to dancing that they did to following God. I wanted my students to do the moves out of pure praise for Jesus and when I saw the joyful smiles on their face and that they were truly having fun following the choreography and praising God, I knew I did my job. When we focus on God’s Word/His choreography our form will follow. It will be easier to do more godly things than worldly.

Following God's Word is an act of obedience just as following the instructors choreography is. When we all do the steps that are given the dance has so much grace and togetherness. But when we break and go against the choreography of a group dance it is noticeable.  I think that even in group dances we can be individuals! My now sister in law and I danced for years before we married brothers. We were true dance sisters. I used to hear a lot of compliments that we were fun to watch when we danced together. Oh, and we did have fun! But we had different strengths. But when we danced together our praises for God was what made us stand out because we not only did the steps but our hearts were on display and we had fun doing it. Following God's Word is fun too.

Yes, I will still say that dance is one of the hardest sports out there. You have to control every muscle in you. There were certain steps in the choreography that killed my toes, killed my back... but after I accomplished that move it was so rewarding. There are going to be times when following God hurts.

Never will I say that losing Jonathan was a good thing. Oh, the pain still hurts today like a knife being driven in my heart. But amazing things have happened since then. My faith tripled in strength and many people noticed. My faith made them hungry to know this faith and that fact alone... that people have come to know Jesus because of my son... makes all the pain more than worth it.  

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -John 16:33 

Friends, dance for the Lord. Follow His Word/Choreography. But to know the Word you must practice it just like you have to practice the dance for the recital. It takes a few tries, it takes determination, it takes grace but most of all it takes obedience. There are going to be times when the world does the opposite of the Word and it is then you have to choose obedience. 

Now, looking back at my life and where God has purposed me... I may not do it perfectly but I will follow him. I will dance for Him. The dance will bring you to a place where you might have to carry a cross for a little while (trials), it might lead you to times of great joy, it might lead you places you never knew you would go... but one thing is for sure a dance for Jesus will lead you to Him. There is no better place friends. I can't wait until my dance ends in His arms! :) or maybe that is when the real dance starts... and this is only the warm up! It doesn't matter to me. I will dance for my Jesus, my precious Jesus. 
Dance with me.