I Hope You Dance

When my first grandchild was born nine years ago this month the song I Hope You Dance, sung by Lee Ann Womack and written by Mark D. Sanders was very popular. It had been released in May and as we awaited the birth over the summer it became a sort of theme song of our hopes for this new life that was coming into our family. I have gone back to the lyrics of this song with the birth of each of my other grandchildren and every time I hear it I revive these hopes for each of them.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May your never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Loving might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out, reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it our or dance

I hope your dance

I hope you dance

I still have these hopes for my grandchildren, and I think the words of the song also offer pretty good advise to those of us in the grandmother years of our lives.