This past summer brought a deeply personal joy as I watched my son, Mark, embark on a new chapter, marrying a wonderful woman of faith. Our family was intimately involved in the celebration; my husband officiated, Mark’s twin stood as best man, and our other sons were groomsmen. For me, witnessing the ceremony was a moment filled with emotion and maternal pride, culminating in the cherished mother-son dance. When Mark asked about the song, my response was immediate: “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack.
Among my four sons, Mark and I share a unique kindred spirit – adventurous yet thoughtful, capable, and grounded. As we moved to the music, I expressed my love and my deepest wish for him: to live a life unbound, as a child of God. The song’s lyrics resonated profoundly with this sentiment: “I hope you never lose your sense of wonder… never fear those mountains in the distance… When you get the choice to sit it out or dance… I hope you dance.” My heart’s desire for Mark, as his mother, is for him to experience the liberation of living fully in God’s grace – loved, forgiven, chosen, redeemed, blessed, and sanctified.
This love, these hopes, and these dreams I hold for my children mirror the universal aspirations of parenthood. If we, as imperfect beings, harbor such profound longings for our offspring, how infinitely greater must be the desires of our perfect, holy Father in Heaven for us?
Take a moment to thoughtfully read Ephesians 1:3-14. Notice the powerful words God uses to define YOU, His beloved child. Which words stand out? Do you truly recognize God’s boundless love, His immeasurable grace, and the profound truth that He specifically chose YOU? Do your actions reflect this understanding?
Verses 11 and 12 of Ephesians in the Message paraphrase beautifully: “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”
The phrase “in Christ” or “in Him” appears eight times within these twelve verses. We are designed to live freely in Christ, as God’s chosen people – an astonishing and liberating truth!
This week, select one word from this passage that speaks to you. Ask God to deepen your belief in this truth and to empower you to live it out. He hopes you dance – to the rhythm of His grace and the freedom He offers.
Alt: A heartwarming moment of a mother and son sharing a dance at his wedding, embodying love and connection.
Alt: An open Bible highlighting Ephesians 1:3-14, emphasizing the scripture’s message of God’s love and chosen people.
