This Kitchen Is for Dancing

My sister-in-law bought me a kitchen towel that says, “This Kitchen Is for Dancing.” Hmmm, she knows what happens in the Martin Kitchen on Thanksgiving. And every other day. Ha! See, my husband Bobby and I have a morning routine. I make the eggs. He makes the coffee. I make his lunch. He makes the toast. But somewhere in the middle of all of that? We dance! Sometimes, he plays music through the Bose. Sometimes, I play it through my vocal cords. One of our favorite songs to dance to is “Good Day” by Forrest Frank.”

Am I weird?

I always have a new favorite song in my head. Or an old one floating around. My friends know that they can always ask me two questions, and I’ll have the answer lickety-split:

1) What’s your new favorite song? “Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake

2) What are you singing inside your head right now? “Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning,” but the Chris Stapleton version

I can be doing anything – driving, working, thinking about what I’m making for Thanksgiving, talking to you, watching television – and singing in my head. Truth, is that weird? Actually, don’t answer that.

Thankfulness is hard.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and we’re supposed to be thankful. We’re supposed to be. But sometimes, things happen, and it’s hard to be grateful. If you’re there, I’m so, so sorry.

You see, I’ve struggled, too. The past years have brought grief, and I’ve been the one stepping up to care for everyone. I don’t regret it; it’s been an honor. But I realized these past few months that while I’ve been soldiering through the family trauma for fifteen years, I haven’t allowed myself time nor permission to grieve any of it as I should. Being a warrior is necessary sometimes, but it’s often a pay me now or pay me later situation.

Here’s what I know to be true.

If you don’t believe what I believe, that’s OK. You’re safe and welcome with me. And I hope I am with you, too.

The God of the universe is good. He loves me. He did not promise that things would be rosy all of the time. Really, were they for Jesus? And that served a purpose. He turned the whole universe upside down for me. And for you. if we know him, that means our lives are changed, our sins are forgiven and my future is in heaven. 

He never said that we wouldn’t have trouble. In fact He said that we would, but that He’d be with us through it. How do I know it’s true? Because I’ve had troubles before, and HE WAS THERE. 

I’ve been trusting Him this year, sitting in this grief—it’s uncomfortable, let me tell you—and dancing. Yes, dancing! Sometimes, I don’t want to praise Him. I don’t feel like it. But I do it anyway. It’s not a “fake it ’til you make it” thing, though. When I sing and dance in front of Him? It’s worship.

And he’s gracious. Patient. And a good, good Father. I’ll be praising Him on Thanksgiving Day and every day thereafter.

This. Is. An. All-skate.

I heard a new song by Brandon Lake recently that says everything. About what I’m thinking, yes. But even more importantly, what I know to be true about God, what He deserves from us, and how He feels about us. It’s my New Favorite. You have to listen to it. I just know that you’ll love it; it will touch your soul. This is an all-skate, people! By the way, if you pass me in my car and I’m singing with Brandon at the top of my lungs with hands in the air, mind your business. LOL

Hard Fought Hallelujah

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18