She is dancing… with abandon!
Twirling around, with both arms extended outward. Her head thrown back, looking up with joyful exuberance!
She is dressed in blue. Wearing a dress with a full skirt — the kind that swirls outward with every spin.
She is a picture of Joy, Lord! She is a picture of Freedom!
Is she also a picture of me, Lord? At least on some level?
Wait a minute… she is me! She’s part of me.
She’s the ink blot on my left thumb!
I was on the phone earlier in my home office. I had to jot down some notes, so I opened the desk drawer and grabbed the first pen I could find. It wasn’t until after I hung up that I realized the pen was defective. It had leaked all over my fingers!
I ran to the kitchen sink, where I rinsed and scrubbed until I was close to taking off skin. I guess the ink is indelible. The scrubbing didn’t help.
I was a marked woman.
I wondered what “heavy duty” cleaner might work. Acetone? Paint thinner? Or maybe I should just wait until it wears off…
That’s when You whispered to me, Lord. Oh, how I love Your whispers!
You reminded me of some priceless truths that changed my whole perspective.
The stain was there, all right. But what did it mean?
That’s when I saw her — my little blue dancer. And that’s when I knew You could turn even a “random” ink blot into a message pregnant with meaning.
Take me, for instance. I was hopelessly stained when You came along, Lord. And, by Your Amazing Grace, You made me spotless.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Life has continued to stoke me — or rather, to stoke the fire You have lit in me, Lord! And, truth be told, sometimes Life has splattered me and shattered me. Yet You are always here, Lord… making the most of everything.
For my blessing and for Your glory!
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
My little dancer has almost disappeared. After just a few hand washings and dish washings. I guess she wasn’t as indelible as I had first thought.
But thanks to You, Lord, I am still a marked woman. Because of the mark You have placed on me. The mark no one can ever rub off.
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians:1:21-22)
And that is why I dance, Lord… with abandon! With my head thrown back, looking up with joyful exuberance!
Because You have fulfilled a promise You made to me thousands of years before I, my parents and my grandparents were ever born.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness… [you] will dance and be glad… I will turn [your] mourning into gladness; I will give [you] comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31:3,13)
And so You have!
And so You are!
And so You will!
And so… I dance!
Gratefully,
Abba’s Girl