Psalm 100 - When We Need a Dance Party

Summer in the Psalms

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How do you let off steam?

Before 'Dubs and I got married, we took some local dance lessons, and the only class which worked for our schedule at the time was the Argentine Tango, though we had no intention of doing the Argentine Tango for our first dance (no way those kicks would work with my dress). Mentioning this to my Dad, he encouraged us to have fun with it, saying "You can't dance and not smile." And, that's stayed with me.

Dancing invites joy and smiling, and as my friend, Kathy Izard, points out in her reflection of Psalm 100, dancing also invites gratitude. These "holy spirited steps" as she says are welcomed by God.

Kathy Izard is an award-winning author and speaker who has published five inspirational books—three for adults and two for children. You can learn about her books here. Kathy’s work has been featured on NPR and the Today Show inspiring people to be change-makers in their communities. Learn more www.kathyizard.com

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands, Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. - Psalm 100:1-2

As a mom raising four daughters, there was always a lot of noise in our home and often, it was not so joyful. There’s a lot of trauma and drama that comes with sisters not only in sibling rivalries but with the inevitable mean girls at school. On any given day there could be tears about who was not invited to a sleepover, who was accused of taking a favorite toy/shirt/hairbow and who was not sharing or caring. So by bedtime, I just prayed for a silent night. Often as moms, we are so wiped out from the cooking, cleaning and compassion it takes to keep tiny humans alive that it’s easy to forget all the tiny moments of joy.   

One day while pushing my twins in their double stroller and simultaneously corralling their big sisters at our local Charlotte, NC mall, a grandmotherly woman stopped to tell me how adorable my family was. In that moment, I was so harried I had to keep from blurting out to her, “Do you want to come live with them?”

That kind stranger could see so clearly what my tired self could not: my daughters were adorable. In the thick of those toddler and teen years, I could easily take for granted my incredibly precious family even forgetting the years of pregnancy loss and infertility we went through to get them here. But I do remember that no matter how cranky I was at the end of a week, a Friday night dance party could always help me rediscover that awe for our family. I don’t remember how it started, but one night I put on some music and Natalie Merchant began belting out, “These Are the Days.” Suddenly, four giggling little girls were twirling around our den singing into their fists as if they were the backup singers for the 10,000 Maniacs (Natalie’s band). One after another, the girls would call out their favorites to their DJ mom and we would karoake until we were hoarse about “Sweet Caroline” and how “Carolina Girls” absolutely were the best in the world. Stepping back to clap for my little dance troupe, my heart would be bursting with all that joyful noise that was every bit as reverent as it was raucous. Our four blonde and bucktooth girls were the family I always hoped to create and this all daughter disco was no small miracle. I like to think our divine dance parties could be heard all the way to the heavens in gratitude for their four precious lives here on earth.

Two decades later, our dance circle is widening as my oldest daughter has her own two sons, age two and four, who would not be here without some modern medical miracles. I called her recently to check in how she was holding up after a long week, “All good now—we had a dance party last night!”

My hope is each of our daughters and their children will continue singing and dancing their gratitude for this one life we are given. As much as I’m sure God loves our praying, hymn singing or even silent devotion, I like to believe our holy spirited steps probably are a welcome joyful noise. And now, I also try to be that grandmotherly woman who reminds an overworked, exhausted mom, “Your family is adorable!”

May we all try to remember the everyday miracles in our ordinary lives and may we have a few more divine dance parties to say thank you.

Now, It's Your Turn!

I challenge you to take a moment to pray, then read or listen to Psalm 100 today. Think about what stands out to you. Consider writing down a statement of faith. It may help to think of this as an I-statement. Maybe yours is similar to Kathy's:

God loves our praying, hymn singing and even silent devotion - our holy spirited steps are a welcome joyful noise.

Then, jot down a question to think about today. Maybe yours is similar to Kathy's:

What are the everyday miracles in my ordinary life and how can I make time for a divine dance party to say thank you?

May this reflection lead our hearts to gratitude and praise today and may we stand in victory against the tactics and schemes of the enemy.

And praise God for refreshment as we are intentional to spend a summer in the Psalms together, for if we want His truth to ever be on our lips, it must first be planted in our hearts.

Our strength grows as we rely on strength from above. Our joy grows as we see God transforming us from the inside out. Our peace grows as we spend time in God's presence, and we find rest when we intentionally seek the Lord first in our lives, for the Lord is ever our portion.

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.