"I Hope You Dance"

About twelve years ago, Lee Ann Womack recorded "I Hope You Dance." What great dreams for a child are in the song, words to inspire our prayers and hopes for our own children as they become bravehearts.

I am encouraged every time I hear this song written by Tia Sillers and Mark Sanders. I hope some of the same things. I hope they never lose their sense of wonder. I hope they always have a hunger and love and don't take life for granted. I hope they don't fear the mountains or taking chances.

I hope they choose to dance.

As you watch or read, I hope you search your dreams for your own children and put your own words to them in prayer.

You can click here to watch Lee Ann Womack and her daughters perform "I Hope You Dance."  Or, read the song:

"I Hope You Dance"

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'

Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'

Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter

When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)

Dagwood's Dream

Following a dream takes courage.  Dagwood has been in the same office job and carpool for a long, long time!  He is avoiding pursuing his dream, it would change his world.  He has a dream inside, but wants to keep eating pizza undisturbed.

God put ideas in Jeremiah's heart that needed to come out:

"Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire

Shut up in my bones;

And I am weary of holding it in,

And I cannot endure it."

--Jeremiah 20:9

Jeremiah was mocked and beaten for saying what was inside him, but let it out anyway.  Dagwood doesn't want his dreams let out, life would change.

Dream pursuit is frightening.  Life changes.  And, lives are changed.

How do we help our children have the courage to pursue God planted dreams?  Give them a view of the world bigger than themselves and a home to think about what they see.  Let them know that God is calling them to follow dreams that are just for them.  Let's not be afraid of the tender spots and passions that God puts inside them, but help them discern and develop those ideas.  Let's trust a trustworthy God that His call on them is good.  It may be hard, but it is good.

Real life isn't about eating pizza.