A few years back I had one of the sweetest moments of my life.
It was our only daughter’s wedding day.
It was a beautiful May Day in North Carolina. There was an amazing group of family and friends from all over there to celebrate with us.
It was a good day.
The wedding happened right outside of a really cool old barn.
I walked my daughter down the aisle…actually I walked her around a field down to the designated space.
I sat by my best friend and we watched our daughter, suddenly a grownup, pledge her love to a tall bass player.
After the ceremony we gathered in the barn and ate some chicken. We laughed and remembered with dear friends.
And then we danced…
Delanie and Jordan danced and spun and giggled like newlyweds.
Then it was my turn…
It was time for the father – daughter dance, it was nothing choreographed, more freestyle than fancy. I took my daughter by the hand and all I could see was the 5 year that I had walked to kindergarten.
My friend, Adam, who also performed the wedding ceremony had helped me put together a 4 minute mix of significant songs in our parent-child life: it included “Baby Likes to Rock it” by the tractors (which was Del’s jam as a baby), “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns and Roses (which has been my nickname for her for a long time), and “Shattered Glass” by Brad Paisley (which is a ridiculously sweet song about girls being strong and busting barriers).
“Butterfly Kisses” isn’t really our style!!
We danced to our story.
We danced.
I cried big sloppy tears.
My tears were full of memories.
The memories ran down my face.
Then we were joined by Diana, and Jordan, and the rest of the family. We all danced in a little awkward clump.
It wasn’t graceful.
It WAS full of grace!
It was full of song and story.
I’m drawn out of the land of remembering by the chords of another timeless medley…
I’m invited onto another dance floor.
It turns out my Dad wants to dance with me.
My relationship with God is a dance with my Father.
He invites me to participate, he takes me by the hand and leads me into the story.
That changes everything.
It’s a dance of love, belonging, and purpose.
The Creator dances over all that He made.
And He invites me to join in.
Because He is my Father.
He is the Father who waits on the front porch for me to come home so he can throw a party.
It has taken me a while to grasp this.
Many times we think that once we become a Christ follower our worth depends on what we do for the cause. We need to get to work. God expects us to earn our keep. Right?
There’s something ’bout that work, work, work.
That’s pretty messed up.
I’m not a tool in his hand.
I’m a hand grasping His hand.
I’m not an employee.
I’m a child.
We DO get to participate in what God is doing.
BUT…it is meant to be dance instead of duty.
It’s a series of sweet moments.
It’s more freedom than fancy.
On the darkest days, when I can barely hear the music, he pulls me into his enveloping embrace.
Sometimes I just need a divine Dad hug.
He helps me find my groove.
I let him lead (THAT is very important!). We move around the floor to the sweet beat of songs that are deeply significant.
I’m learning the dance steps. Sometimes it’s awkward, I’m pretty sure that I’ve stepped on his feet once or twice.
Still He loves me.
Simply
Because
I’m
His
Kid.
carbonated joy 