Monday, October 22, 2007

Dancing in the Kitchen

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

One of the greatest blessings in my life is my youngest son's ability to pull me out of myself. He has a way of getting people to come along with him and enjoy the current adventure in life. His technique is an irresistible combination of inspiring participation and coaxing the reluctant target. For me, he completed the education in silliness, which my husband began teaching from the night I met him. (It is my suspicion that you must be a child in order to successfully teach the higher levels of this desirable life skill.) When it came to fun, games and all things silly, as an oldest child and later as a parent, I tended to excel in the supervision of silliness, but certainly not in deigning to participate in it. I was in all such things a specator. A "silly" (please pardon the pun) way to be, but true nonetheless!

I know it was divinely ordained, beyond any shadow of doubt, that I was assigned family members who would train me in the art of participating in silliness, and not just being a benchwarmer. Did I mention I am eternally grateful for this very important life lesson?

One of the many techniques my youngest son used to instruct me, was to spontaneously dance in the kitchen. The twirls, swings and everything. It's like this: smiles, "Come on" step, step, twirl and swing, step, step, laugh and misstep for Mom, step, step, twirl, more laughter...you get the picture. With every step, and every laugh, and every twirl and swing, it is as if life, light and humility fill you, and in return you empty of worry and prideful reservations. It is a splendid trade-off.

Those moments are eternally engraved in my mind, and have left grooves (I know! Again with the puns!) of laughter, joy, wonder and great expectations for his future. It is possible that you would have to know how truly awful at dancing I am, to really appreciate the contrast here. Use your imagination, words fail me, (though not often) here. He has certainly completed his assignment of educating me in the higher levels of silliness, just ask anyone here. I can be silly with the best of them now!

Recently he and a buddy were acting up as they made lunch in the kitchen. They spontaneously started to dance in this parallel, line dance style. Just sort of showing of their coolness and masculinity in that way only young people (and your spouse) can get away with. It was such a sight to see! So young and full of life and laughter, that it makes you happy just to see them. Seeing these two young men who are ready to take on the world and find their own respective beauties to conquer life with, I was reminded his time under our direct supervision is short.

Before you can blink three times, his Dad and I will be watching each of them dance at their own weddings, and then one day in the kitchens with their daughters.

Notice that most of this is written in the past tense as pertains to my youngest having taught me through dancing in the kitchen. That is because my youngest is 14 you know. It is not too often that a dance scene between he and I happens right now. That is Ok. It is part of the healthy transition of life. He is now looking for the love of his life to dance with. I find myself praying for him and for her, where ever she is. I hope she likes to dance in the kitchen,or is at least willing to be silly and learn!

13 comments:

Cecily R said...

Oh, I hope that every once in a while you still sneak a dance in!

How quickly time passes. I swear Isaac was just a baby yesterday! It doesn't make me sad to think about it, but it does make me a little wistful.

I think I need to come to you for teenager advice when the time comes. I'm going to need help!

someone else said...

I have enjoyed a read through your whole blog, and wanted to thank you for stopping by mine to get acquainted.

I loved this post on dancing in the kitchen. My husband frequently grabs my hand for a spin around the house and we're not great dancers at all. But it's just such a delightfully intimate moment.

A Captured Reflection said...

Thank you for visiting my blog, and for your encouraging words. This post was beautiful, I could just feel God speaking to me through it. My daughter is my affable, spontaneous girl who can make everything colourful and bright, she gets me to stop and smell the flowers, to enjoy the moment. So when I read this post it struck me that these little personalities in my home, be they alike or different, well God has a wonderful plan!

She Rose Up said...

Cecily r - Oh, absolutely! Just not as often!

It does go so fast! You are right not to be sad! Just enjoy it all, it's good to the last drop!

Hey, you are gonna do great! The best thing to prepare for teenage years you are doing right now, building relationship while they are little. Sounds basic, but we don't always do that! You are set!

Morning Glory,

I just love this name. My mom use to call me that when she would wake me up. Good Morning, Glory! Granted the wording is a little diff, but, it still evokes happy memories!

Loved your site, and your working/analogy. As Ahnold says "I will be back!"

Thanks, Ya'll!
Maria

She Rose Up said...

Karen! Oops!

I have dial-up, which is a bit of a delay! So our comments passed each other!

Thanks for stopping by! And for your very kind words.

Yes, they certainly are a gift! In my life,I guess I notice it so much because I always say that God wooed me through my children.

I will be a regular at your site, so much to see there still. I just can't believe the things on your sidebar how much they spoke to me and echoed things in me. Really cool!

Thanks again &
Have a great evening, Ya'll!

Maria

luvmy4sons said...

You brought back some fun memories of some dancing that used to go on around here in my ktichen with my boys when they were little. I will still dance now and then as the oldest plays his music as he washes dishes, but they balk at dancing with me now too! Thanks for te trip down memory lane!

Praise and Coffee said...

Great post!

I came here from Karen.
Blessings,
Sue

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

I think I need some dancing lessons with my 14yrs oold son to bring back the fun and silliness .Things are a little crazy around here - lots of angst. I will have a look around - I sure could use advice.
Hope the dancing shoes are always on the spot when you need them most.

Karen Hossink said...

What a wonderful first meeting with you! I came over at Karen's suggestion, and am so glad I did.
I fully agree with you that God knows what we need in order to grow and He uses our children to take us there.
Thanks for sharing about your dancing experiences!

Sassiekiwi said...

Great post ... I like your blog and will be back.

I too am horrible at dancing - truely horrible! But ... God loves it. After my Dad died (many years ago when a student at uni) I would play an album. Every time a certain song came on I would be so filled with joy and I would want to dance. So ... I would shut my bedroom door and dance. I felt like one of the graceful feathery ostrich puppets but if someone looked through my keyhole ... it would have liked like a hippo galumphing around! However ... it released something in me and one day, for a moment, I caught a glimpse of how God saw me and it was beautiful. Dance away girl ... :)

Sassiekiwi

PS ... Steven Curtis Chapman has a beautiful new song called cinderella that is about dancing - and growing through the years - your post reminded me of that.

She Rose Up said...

Leslie,

I know! They out grow us in some ways! Yikes!

Sue,

Loved your site. I will be visiting! Thanks for stopping! Glad you enjoyed it!

baby~amore'

Yeah, I know what you mean about the angst! We had our share, and they now get their turn! e-mail me sometime... freetofly@cfaith.com, mothers of teen sons can encourage one another!

irritable mother,

you are anything but irritable! I love your site and your writing! So upbeat and deep at the same time! A great combination!

Thanks for stopping in!

sassikiwi,

You response made me teary! How sweet a pic!

I hope we get to be friends!


Thanks to all for sharing in this with me! Mothers and women in general have so much to share and encourage each other with!

I hope we will keep in touch!
Blessings to each of you and your families
Maria

Kimmie said...

So glad you are enjoying the dance and all the silliness it sometimes contains.
Choose joy and be filled with the fullness of all that God has for you and yours!

blessings
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted

Anonymous said...

Hey mom! Whats up. This is really a beautiful post mom. I'm lucky to have been born into your's and dads arms. I love you both so much. Thank you for always pointing me in the right direction. Tell the guys I said high and I love them, and I will see you soon
love your oldest lol James

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

What Does it Mean Anyway? "Free to Fly"...

Well, it's like this: Here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Free: a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen b : enjoying civil and political liberty c : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination d : enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another2 a : not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being : choosing or capable of choosing for itself...having a scope not restricted by qualification 7 a : not obstructed, restricted, or impeded ...Now, here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Fly:1 a : to move in or pass through the air with wings b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space c : to float, wave, or soar in the air ... a : to take flight ...6 : to work successfully ...Examples which apply from Websters: fly high : to be elated - fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of : to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of

What does this mean in my life? This means that in life we are meant to be free. While historically mankind has not always enjoyed the opportunity to fully appreciate what that means, we are so indescribably fortunate as to live in a time of the greatest spiritual, physical, financial and political freedom ever known. Freedom doesn't come cheap, nor does it come easy. But the best things in life don't come that way do they? As I write this I am struck by how this sounds like a political statement, and for me this is much more of a spiritual thing, but, same goes for that (political that is). Freedom doesn't come easy. And it's worth whatever fight you have to make to overcome in your life in order to live a life that succeeds. Now the questions is - what is success for you? What is your standard? In my mind what is needed is a definite target - because you can't hit and maintain a moving target. A stable, rock-solid, anchor with no variable, yet multi-faceted. Something pure, just and worthy. If you look at any web page of news you can see that our society is certainly lacking in this area. What a great time to live as a rebel! Nowadays to be a rebel, all you have to do is be willing to engage in the battle of life, while anchored to Christ!