Dance Naked

We all have ways of coping when we are tired.  Different auto-pilot modes we fall into.  Mine is silent withdrawing.  My daughter, however, gets louder and sillier.  Today was one of those typical weekdays.  Rushing off in the morning and making magic happen in our household to achieve same.  Drop off to grandpa and grandma’s for the day while mommy rushes to work.  To eight hours later, rush back and reverse cycle.

Today was a longer day than anticipated as errands had to be run after work.  As such, dinner, bath time, and bedtime were pushed back. As my four year old glanced at me with her glazed eyes, I knew her alter ego had snuck in.

But, we had one of those special moments tonight that I hope has been engraved in our hearts for years to come.  A simple, unexpected moment of her drying off after the bath, toddling to the living room to set the stage for bedtime shows, only to hear a song on the tv instead.  And as the sun was setting and the rays shone through the peek in the living room curtain, my daughter smiled at me, raised her arms, and like nobody’s business, danced naked.  The laughter that ensued echoed through our house.  Our dog joined in the moment, wagging tail, with stuffie in mouth, as this little girl danced with all of her might, bum shakes and all, accompanied by the sound of her own contagious giggle.  And I laughed, that belly laugh that spilled over into the small chasm between chuckles and tears.  And then I cried.   For I love this little girl with all of my being and to hear her joy and freedom, my soul is at complete peace.  We are happy and so very blessed.

I hope today you experience a special moment.  One that is etched in your memory.  One that fills you with complete joy and the certainty that you are in the palm of His hand.  Dance naked!

“We were filled with laughter and we sang for joy” ~ Psalm 126:2