3.22.2011

The Dance

March 22, 2011


When someone else scolds your child, how do you react? My instinct is to puff up and defend my baby! You see, Karli's ballet teacher has been "busting their chops" in class for a few weeks now. These girls are being challenged! If you don't know, ballet is very difficult, very disciplined, very specific. These girls have got to nail a dance (or four) by mid-June. Not only do they have to learn the routine, they've got to master technique! From what I gather, the teacher does not baby these girls. She's a little rough in my little girl's eyes.

So, my child leaves ballet class in tears yesterday. She's having a hard time with one position. She is giving it her all, but it still escapes her. She's frustrated with her teacher because she's not cutting her any slack! The teacher is not accepting second best. She wants it done right. Karli is having a hard time dealing with being pushed so hard in the manner that the teacher is using.

After I fought back my initial urge to storm into the dance studio and give that teacher a piece of my insane mind, I started to pray. Then, I started to ask questions in search of a solution. There is a teacher and an aid in that class. The teacher is the one who's style rubs Karli the wrong way. The aid has been kinder and gentler and can accomplish things using a different approach. So, I suggested that she go to the aid and ask for extra help in learning to execute the step that she's having trouble with.

You know, in life, we all experience situations that are not pleasant. But, we often overlook the fact that those are valuable moments. Moments to push ourselves beyond what is comfortable and familiar. Opportunities to set before us a goal that challenges us. Growth. It's not always fun. That's why it's called Growing Pains! But imagine what our lives would be like if we never grew. We'd all be like infants. Never learning to walk or talk. Still drinking nasty formula- never tasting yummy food!

I've explained to Karli that this is not going to be the last time that she is going to encounter a situation such as this. There are going to be many times throughout her life that she's asked to step into a place that she does not want to be. She's going to be asked to give until it hurts. She's going to be faced with things being withheld from her that she thinks she NEEDS! She's going to have to struggle from time to time. She's going to be forced to search deep within herself to find what she needs to climb a mountain! I hope that what she finds is God.

"Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom- if you want to know what God wants you to do- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:2-8


"See how many enemies I have, and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for I trust in you." Psalm 25:19-20


"Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20


"Stop fooling yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you will have to become a fool so you can become wise by God's standards." 1Corinthians 3:18


"Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Ephesians 4:14-16

1 comment:

Tammy said...

Wowzer!! Good word lil' Momma! :) Love you!