Dee Dah Day
April 3, 2008
by Susan Lucas
I thought I’d share a few thoughts on spiritual disciplines for practical living based on John Ortberg’s book entitled “The Life You’ve Always Wanted.” So here goes…Ortberg describes the practice of celebration from a child’s point of view. He recites bathing all three of his children together and being in a great hurry to finish. One child (Mallory) instead of following his lead, and also being in a rush, began dancing and running around in circles singing “dee dah day” over and over again. Mallory when unable to control her euphoria had made this a habit in their house. Of course, Ortberg being a task driven person asked Mallory to stop. Then in response, Mallory asked a profound question- “Why”? Ortberg had no answer. He had no meeting to attend, no sermon to write, and here was joy: an invitation to dance right in from of him and he was missing it!
So he got up and danced and father and child had a “Dee Dah Day”. I don’t know about you, but I have two “Dee Dah Day” children and I have learned to be thankful for them. To have an eighteen year old son who still wraps his arms around his mother and dances is such a gift. I have learned to stop and celebrate. How happy our father in heaven must be when we take the time to have a “Dee Dah Day” and dance with him. C. S. Lewis once said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”
So today, I am looking forward to the never-ending “Dee Dah Day” when joy will reign without end and God will dance with his people:
“You shall go out with joy and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you shall burst
into song. And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isa. 55:12
So Ladies, my challenge to you is to set aside one day a week to be silly with your children, eat foods you love to eat, listen to music that moves your soul, wear clothes that make you happy and direct your life to God so that you may KNOW He is the “giver of every good and perfect gift.” Nothing is insignificant if it enables us to turn to God with gratitude and delight. So let’s dance….
I have read this story before in his book.. and revisiting it again in your article brought me to tears….and such an encouragement to celebrate our DeeDah Children.. Thanks.LL