The other morning after breakfast, I turned on some upbeat music while I cleaned up the kitchen. The eight kids, initially scattered around the house, heard the tunes and almost like magic, all showed up in the living room and started a dance party.
Our living area is not large, so basically our family “dancing” together entails skipping, twirling, or stomping in a large chain around the sofa and coffee table in an unceasing loop. (Frequent interjections from a parent to slow down, stop running, no pushing past siblings, etc. are also usually a part of these dancing outbreaks – because sometimes competition is a factor.)
This is a pretty common occurrence in our home, and everyone usually has a good time… with a few minor caveats like the kid who inevitably bumps into the hearth or bookshelf, or the child who, in a contrary moment, decides to go the opposite way from everyone else – incurring the frustration and angry protests of the others. Or the youngest who trip on their long dress-up gowns and wail mournfully because the others just keep dancing over and around them. But in general, everyone enjoys themselves and the happy music helps uplift the general atmosphere in our home.
My husband happened to be home this particular morning and was still at the table finishing his coffee. One of our youngest daughters broke from the circle of happily dancing kids and skipped over to him.
Smiling joyously, dimples all showing, she looked up into his face with big excited eyes and cried, “Come dance with us, Daddy!” and reached out to grab his hand.
No one could have resisted such a sweet invitation, least of all her daddy.
And the next thing I knew, I was laughing helplessly over the kitchen sink while my husband spun and twirled in the living room surrounded by a swarm of utterly delighted children. He then unexpectedly jumped up on the middle of the coffee table for an intense air guitar session! The kids cheered wildly while still dancing all around.
Every little face was wreathed in a huge smile, each was laughing, each was moving exuberantly but also more thoughtfully of each other, and everyone’s pleasure in joyfully dancing together was greatly increased… because their daddy was there, too.
Tears came to my eyes, even through my laughter, as I watched this beautiful, happy family moment.
What if we deliberately invited our Father to dance with us each day, too?
We know He’s there, present, in control and able to take care of us, but what if we behaved like a little child and ran over to Him, smiled up at Him and asked Him to join in our small moments, the things we do, the everyday pieces of our life?
What would happen if we were so excited with the idea of having God be in the middle of everything with us that we behaved like it by asking Him to be present in each moment each day, because we truly believed He would make it better?
I think He would be thrilled to be invited into our days and hearts in this way.
The exuberance and hilarious joy my husband showed in this quick interlude of our family’s day was so precious to me because it illustrated something I firmly believe to be true about our Father – His presence will only add more joy, greater pleasure, deeper consideration for others, and increase our delight in Him and each other.
This is because this is the kind of Father He is.
In this year, I want to always remember to take a moment to break free from whatever it is I am caught up in, run over to my Father, grab His hand, look up into His face, and smilingly, trustingly, invite Him to come be with me in whatever comes.
He’s always in control, He’s always there, but I want to know the joy of dancing together with Him – today, and in every day, no matter what it brings.
Because where He is, my joy – and yours – is fullest.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11, NLT
It’s as simple as a heart-whisper to Him, “Please come into this moment,” or “You are welcome here, now.”
The difference will be astonishing. Let’s not miss out on extending this invitation.
He’ll always say “Yes!”
– Maria
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