When Emily Dances She Teaches Us About Life
Dear Emily,
Lately I have been writing letters to future people. Today is Monday December 14, 2009. I am writing this letter to the adult Emily while you are still a little girl.
I often have thought about how wonderful it must have been to grow up in your home. Your mother has such a wonderful voice. Hearing her sing everyday must have been an amazing part of growing up. You probably don’t realize or appreciate the incredible talent in your home. Fortunately for you I am sure it is a genetic quality you inherited. I’m sure your mother told you the stories about her musical heritage. Lucky you!
And it is not just on your mother’s side. You dad has more talent than just about anybody I have ever known. His musicianship, especially his guitar playing, is some of the best I have ever seen or heard… honestly. But more than that, his creativity is way out there. You have that in you.
I will always remember the carefree graceful girl who danced in church Sunday mornings. I think your dancing adds to the life of our church. When you dance the rest of us wish we could dance, too, but we are inhibited. When you dance other children come up and want to join you. This shows that even as a little girl you are a leader and other’s look to you as a model and example. When you dance it teaches us a little more about life and love. You are the best dancer, too.
Did you know that dancing is a form of worship? It is true. When you dance it is like saying to God, “Thank you for all your gifts in my life, and especially the gift of dance.” Your dancing honors God.
I don’t know if the adult you is still dancing. As we get older we become more reserved and we let those beautiful natural innocent things slip through our fingers, unfortunately. I hope you are still dancing.
Dancing is a beautiful metaphor. The other day I was watching White Christmas, you know, the old Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney movie released in 1954. What great entertainment! Even after 55 years the story, songs, and especially the dancing seem so relevant. In the movie they dance and sing their way through a difficult problem.
Emily I pray that you will be able to dance your way through life… through the good times and the not so good times. I pray that you realize that your growing up years perfectly prepared you for adult life. I pray that all the good stuff that God put in you, including all the great gifts you got from your mom and dad, will bless you.
And here is the kicker… I pray that as you dance you will help others to dance too, like you did at church when you were a little girl. Whether you dance as an engineer, or an educator, a business woman, or a mom, a physician or politician… what ever you do, where ever you go make a dance out of it. Dance and give thanks, dance and lead, dance and have fun, dance and express your giftedness. It seems like this is what God has been preparing for you.
Emily I have known you from the beginning and I have known your family for years before that. I look forward to being a part of your life for years to come.
And always know this… throughout your life people, like me, have been watching you grow, have been praying for you, thinking wonderful thoughts about you, and we believe that God has something wonderful to do through your life.
I love you – Pastor Bryan Martin
