I so appreciate Sophia’s point of view about whether it was sexual or not. I think classes like that could be really important for people who have been sexually abused, or even just carry shame for sexual things or over their bodies in general. You can’t look up sometimes until the shame is off....And that ability to look up is where we find the eyes of Jesus gazing at us with his healing love. Getting comfortable being IN your body in a judgement free zone with movement the world at large may consider sexual sounds like a freedom moment. It feels like one of those things the enemy may try to claim as his, but there is good in it and lovers of Jesus don’t have to let him have it...
Thank you for sharing this interesting and timely conversation. I have been drawn towards moving my body in a more primal, as well as feminine way this coming year. Trying a softer way and becoming present and re-connected to my body. I've really been drawn to a belly dancing class. Not to perform for others, but to be free. Free from fear. Free from judgement. Free from shame.
What a sweet moment! I loved Sophia’s thought about the context. It is beautifully refreshing! And while I’m not a twerking girl, I do love moving freely in all the ways!😉 Well said Sophia! Great job Momma!❤️
I ABSOLUTELY enjoyed this convo. I did not have these conversations at home and it would have been nice. Thanks for sharing 👏 . I myself enjoy dancing and enjoy various genres of music. What I realize is that dancing styles may differ according to culture. 'Whining' or even twirking may be innocent in one place, but offensive in another. I think it's just to know what is culturally acceptable and wouldn't offend another. I like my African dance moves (which includes much hip and waist movement) and they're innocent as is. Buuut that may not be the case in a typical church setting.... 😂. Also, as Sophia rightly said, twirking might not be so innocent amidst men, especially depending on the women's attire. I think we -men and women- have to be honest about how we are affected by happenings around us and that could help us make better decisions. Anyhow, I'm enjoying these moments of candid sharing. Thank you. May Abba grant you all your heart's desires as He sees fit. 🌸
Thank you Alisa for sharing this conversation between you and your lovely daughter, Sophia. I loved how you gave her space and time to unpack her thoughts about the class, and what it meant for her to discern what makes a dance sexual, who the intended audience was, etc. The pictures you shared were wonderful.
We are aware the enemy is the master of perversion; everything our Lord created was good, until the devil was given the authority to distort and pervert things from their "original design". Our Lord is in the business of redeeming what was lost, distorted and perverted for His glory! Glory to our Father forever!
I was sexually active as a teen and used my body to get what I wanted. When I got married and Re surrendered back to Christ, I wanted something different and special so I became a little colder and more “boring” and careful in the place where God created me to be wild and free…. I am definitely free now :) wonder if it’s similar to dancing/exercise/worship - those who once lived in sun , don’t know the freedom they had and how the enemy twisted what was good to make us think it was bad. No shame. He’s a liar.
First, It was encouraging to hear a natural conversation between a mom & a daughter. I have fought hard the last few years to restore that with my own 23 year old after living with countless people in our home- I lost some of those intimate moments and have been restoring them over her adult years. This natural convo is necessary in relationships with our kids. Thanks for letting us into your intimate convo & I loved how Sophia was comfortable & confident to explain herself more. That’s a big deal!
Also, I love hip movements,bass and music moves me. Nothing but joy! I am Mexican and culturally have learned how to move my hips. I hang out with a lot of Africans and they have a lot of waist movement and tweaking… a few months ago a church group came to volunteer at Roca & when we debriefed at the end with them, they were commenting how sad it was to see kids show up with our parents (we have a lot of refugee kids from Africa) and then one lady said she was so sad to see how good they danced for their age but they it was sexual. I was in shock. To me it was joy. I shared their culture and to the pure, all things are pure and these kids were pure…. Sometimes I hold back because I don’t want to come across as sexualizing my body even though there isn’t an intention… your chat was such a great perspective from both sides… example: not having men in front of you or what is your intention when doing it. I have been trying to find my spot as a rev instructor to keep myself whole in leading classes and this helped bring some more freedom that I am okay :)
I really appreciate Sophia can verbalize her feelings and speak it out! We all need to grow and do tha and her comment about twirking might not come off innocent among men. I recently realized that I have a new lens in my sexuality file regarding my eyes and ears. You see I have become a widow and the shift is a rude awakening. I was wondering what I would have done in that class if the music was inappropriate to where I have recently shifted. I have not been out in a dance atmosphere. The other day I was listening to a song I had downloaded years ago when I was married. I was singing along to the familiar and suddenly, I stopped and quickly turned it off. I don't even remember ever hearing the line that struck me. I said surprisingly even to myself out loud, "I can not play this song again!" I even have to grieve the little things. Who I am called to be sexually in private has to be who I am in public.I am very sensitive to being alone with men and married men specifically as that is part of my platform. I need to be not offensive to my Lord. I would never have thought about this place of discernment two years ago! It will be interesting to how the dance plays out! And the enemy has not stolen this ,it is just shifted. I welcome thoughts.
I so appreciate Sophia’s point of view about whether it was sexual or not. I think classes like that could be really important for people who have been sexually abused, or even just carry shame for sexual things or over their bodies in general. You can’t look up sometimes until the shame is off....And that ability to look up is where we find the eyes of Jesus gazing at us with his healing love. Getting comfortable being IN your body in a judgement free zone with movement the world at large may consider sexual sounds like a freedom moment. It feels like one of those things the enemy may try to claim as his, but there is good in it and lovers of Jesus don’t have to let him have it...
Thank you for sharing this interesting and timely conversation. I have been drawn towards moving my body in a more primal, as well as feminine way this coming year. Trying a softer way and becoming present and re-connected to my body. I've really been drawn to a belly dancing class. Not to perform for others, but to be free. Free from fear. Free from judgement. Free from shame.
What a fun class to take together! A live DJ!
Sophia’s comments were interesting and that’s so good to have that open conversation between you two.
What a sweet moment! I loved Sophia’s thought about the context. It is beautifully refreshing! And while I’m not a twerking girl, I do love moving freely in all the ways!😉 Well said Sophia! Great job Momma!❤️
I ABSOLUTELY enjoyed this convo. I did not have these conversations at home and it would have been nice. Thanks for sharing 👏 . I myself enjoy dancing and enjoy various genres of music. What I realize is that dancing styles may differ according to culture. 'Whining' or even twirking may be innocent in one place, but offensive in another. I think it's just to know what is culturally acceptable and wouldn't offend another. I like my African dance moves (which includes much hip and waist movement) and they're innocent as is. Buuut that may not be the case in a typical church setting.... 😂. Also, as Sophia rightly said, twirking might not be so innocent amidst men, especially depending on the women's attire. I think we -men and women- have to be honest about how we are affected by happenings around us and that could help us make better decisions. Anyhow, I'm enjoying these moments of candid sharing. Thank you. May Abba grant you all your heart's desires as He sees fit. 🌸
Thank you Alisa for sharing this conversation between you and your lovely daughter, Sophia. I loved how you gave her space and time to unpack her thoughts about the class, and what it meant for her to discern what makes a dance sexual, who the intended audience was, etc. The pictures you shared were wonderful.
We are aware the enemy is the master of perversion; everything our Lord created was good, until the devil was given the authority to distort and pervert things from their "original design". Our Lord is in the business of redeeming what was lost, distorted and perverted for His glory! Glory to our Father forever!
Alot of shame around sexuality. It’s time to redeem our view of our bodies. I wonder how Eve moved and walked around before the fall? Just curious.
Such a good word. Well said
And adding… hope this makes sense.
I was sexually active as a teen and used my body to get what I wanted. When I got married and Re surrendered back to Christ, I wanted something different and special so I became a little colder and more “boring” and careful in the place where God created me to be wild and free…. I am definitely free now :) wonder if it’s similar to dancing/exercise/worship - those who once lived in sun , don’t know the freedom they had and how the enemy twisted what was good to make us think it was bad. No shame. He’s a liar.
First, It was encouraging to hear a natural conversation between a mom & a daughter. I have fought hard the last few years to restore that with my own 23 year old after living with countless people in our home- I lost some of those intimate moments and have been restoring them over her adult years. This natural convo is necessary in relationships with our kids. Thanks for letting us into your intimate convo & I loved how Sophia was comfortable & confident to explain herself more. That’s a big deal!
Also, I love hip movements,bass and music moves me. Nothing but joy! I am Mexican and culturally have learned how to move my hips. I hang out with a lot of Africans and they have a lot of waist movement and tweaking… a few months ago a church group came to volunteer at Roca & when we debriefed at the end with them, they were commenting how sad it was to see kids show up with our parents (we have a lot of refugee kids from Africa) and then one lady said she was so sad to see how good they danced for their age but they it was sexual. I was in shock. To me it was joy. I shared their culture and to the pure, all things are pure and these kids were pure…. Sometimes I hold back because I don’t want to come across as sexualizing my body even though there isn’t an intention… your chat was such a great perspective from both sides… example: not having men in front of you or what is your intention when doing it. I have been trying to find my spot as a rev instructor to keep myself whole in leading classes and this helped bring some more freedom that I am okay :)
I really appreciate Sophia can verbalize her feelings and speak it out! We all need to grow and do tha and her comment about twirking might not come off innocent among men. I recently realized that I have a new lens in my sexuality file regarding my eyes and ears. You see I have become a widow and the shift is a rude awakening. I was wondering what I would have done in that class if the music was inappropriate to where I have recently shifted. I have not been out in a dance atmosphere. The other day I was listening to a song I had downloaded years ago when I was married. I was singing along to the familiar and suddenly, I stopped and quickly turned it off. I don't even remember ever hearing the line that struck me. I said surprisingly even to myself out loud, "I can not play this song again!" I even have to grieve the little things. Who I am called to be sexually in private has to be who I am in public.I am very sensitive to being alone with men and married men specifically as that is part of my platform. I need to be not offensive to my Lord. I would never have thought about this place of discernment two years ago! It will be interesting to how the dance plays out! And the enemy has not stolen this ,it is just shifted. I welcome thoughts.