Dance Pants

I have taught dance to some degree most of my life.  I had this particular pair of black cotton dance pants that I had had for years. I loved them.  However, rather large holes were developing along the seams.  Not only that, but as I danced or walked around, jewelry, buttons, drawer knobs and such would get caught in these snags and make the holes bigger.  People in the dance world will understand how certain dance attire, once it has been worn in and worn out, can acquire a sort of chic look.   

Now, I can be stubborn sometimes and the matter of these dance pants was no exception.  One night after teaching a class I loaded up my, then 6 year old, son into our mini van and headed home.  At some point during the drive my wedding ring attached itself to a string on these pants.  Trying to pull it loose resulted in ripping half of the inseam open.  That’s when I had had enough.  

Didn’t these pants realize I had been trying to salvage them?  

After all we’d been through!  

It’s like the pants were betraying me!  

It was personal. 

I ripped and pulled, and before I knew it, I had not only ripped the other inseam but I had torn the pants into several pieces, removed them completely form my body, rolled down my van window and thrown them out into the darkness in complete and utter disgust!!!!!  It was then that I looked over at my poor 6-year-old son who had witnessed this entire ridiculous act and was now watching his mother drive down the highway in her underwear. What is even more strange than that is what happened when I got home.  

After realizing I had to scamper quickly into the house without being seen, thank goodness it was at night, I did so.  I walked straight into the bedroom and, while re-clothing myself, I announced calmly to my husband that I had been frustrated by my pants and thrown them out the window on the way home.  He barely blinked or reacted at all!  Apparently he is accustomed to my somewhat irrational behavior.  I love that man.  

God must love us, too. 

No matter how bizarre our behavior or how irrational we react to the simplest of annoyances, he is un-surprised.  He is not shocked.  He is patient and let’s us learn and reflect on our experiences. Even so, we are called to “explain ourselves” to our heavenly Father. Give an account of our actions.  Nothing surprises Him but he delights in our conversation, confession and repentance.  

On this particular night, my husband and the Lord might not have been surprised, but my six year old sure was! …and I had some explaining to do. 

 

Have you explained yourself to God today?  Are you hiding or sneaking about?

 

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

*photo is a harvey edwards print that i got for my sixteenth birthday, my mom gave it to me early, that's where i developed my impatience for hanging on to good news or surprises