Dad? Is that You?

It was dark in the kitchen, and I was fixing myself a night time snack, while listening and dancing to music. Side note: yes, I dance in the kitchen. Ever since I was a little girl, I occasionally will break out into expressive dancing when I’m alone in the kitchen. What can I say? Music just pulls me out of myself!

My mom has “opened a dance studio” in our dining room. A few times a week our neighbor comes over for ballroom dance lessons. I sit in the other room working and listening to Elton John drifting from the kitchen stereo, across the dining room, down the hallway, and into the office. It amuses me and just knowing that friendship, life and laughter are being stirred up in this house makes me glad and helps me do my work.

My mom and the neighbor dance for a few hours. She coaches him on all the steps, practicing the rhythm in rumba and how to travel in waltz. I remember six years ago when I was the teacher and my partner was coming over for lessons so we could perform the opening MC act for the homeschool talent show. How nervous we were to be in each other’s arms! It was my first encounter with romance and how sweet it was.

When the neighbor leaves, some of the new life lingers. I hope a budding romance might happen to me soon. Not a passing fancy but something to last.

My Dad likes to pick moments like these to remind me that I’m still his, even though he hails from heaven. The other night I heard him distinctly in this song. In the void of my heart, Dad’s voice came through to me as clear as day, floating down from heaven and speaking as only a father can speak to his daughter:

Hey you, you're a child in my head
You haven't walked yet
Your first words have yet to be said
But I swear you'll be blessed

I know you're still just a dream
your eyes might be green
Or the bluest that I've ever seen
Anyway you'll be blessed

And you, you'll be blessed
You'll have the best
I promise you that
I'll pick a star from the sky
Pull your name from a hat
I promise you that, promise you that, promise you that
You'll be blessed

I need you before I'm too old
To have and to hold
To walk with you and watch you grow
And know that you're blessed

(Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Bernie Taupin)

How can I forget you see all, Dad? In these moments, I just know. I know that everything will turn out great whatever God’s plans are for me – it doesn’t matter. All I know and need to know is that I’ll be blessed. Truly, I am, already.