Following the children's singing of "Zacchaeus Was A Wee Little Man" with the children's choir, our youngest took off to find my husband in the back of the church. Not finding him she began to make her way to where I was sitting at the front of the church awaiting the second child's singing. She had taken only two steps when the organ began to play "For the Beauty of the Earth" and the congregation began to sing. That's when the twirling began. She twirled and waltzed all the way from the last pew to the front pew. She grinned and glowed. Upon arriving where I was standing she grabbed my hand and I became her dance partner.
As a parent, pastor and front sitter realized we were on display. How much twirling could and should be allowed? What was the right avenue to not squish, but guide a child in full body dancing mode?
Then she looked at me as we sang the refrain, "Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise."
So, she twirled and twirled and twirled.
My regret is that I didn't let go of my own inner need to dance and join her in the aisle. I remained her dance partner, but didn't leave the comfort of my pew corner. I lament my choice.
During this season of Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for my little twirler and the way she embodies praising God with all of her heart. For her innocence and inability to worry over what others will think about her expressions of thanksgiving.
With Thanks,
Rev. Lissa Long
