Let It Go

That song "Let It Go" from Disney's movie Frozen seems to be a popular tune these days, in the minds and on the lips of many, my 4-year-old daughter included. It's requested to be played at least once every other day, if not every day, and it is never played just once, oh no, four or five times, at least.  Selah belts it out loud with passion, mimicking the actions, facial expressions and attitude of an animated princess.

Of course, I could deny her request, I could just simply tell her no, if it bothered me, buuuuut, maybe I kind of like it too, just maybe.

There's something freeing, something powerful about it...letting go, putting the "past in the past", being yourself, quirkiness and all. 

But, here's the thing, how does any of that apply to Selah? What is her draw to that song?  Why does she like it so much? Why does any young child like it so much?  It's not like they have all that much past to be letting go of...

I've asked why but all I get is, "Because I like it, I just do!" Big happy grin on her face.

Maybe she enjoys the catchy tune, or possibly it's the repetitious lyrics that get stuck in her head, or perhaps it's because of who it's being sung by, a beautiful Disney princess...potentially all of the above.

Orrrrr, maybe I'm just reading too much into things and maybe she really does just like it, just because.  I should just let the girl enjoy her song choice already, geesh! 

But, for me, lyrics of a song are by far the most important aspect.  The words that are being said and the meaning they hold to my life are what I base my judgment of a song.  They are what determine my song choice in the shower or what convinces me it's okay to look a fool at a stoplight, because what I am singing and saying is so worth it.  You know you know what I'm talking about... 

And the lyrics within "Let It Go", ever since hearing it for the first time, leads me to be a little unsettled in it being Selah's current anthem of sorts.  Just a few months ago her favorite song was "We Fall Down" by Chris Tomlin, that I could handle, that I could get behind 100%, that I could listen to her sing 20 times a day without any hesitation. 

Her current obsession is all fairly innocent, seems completely harmless, is even something I enjoy, but hearing (with so.much.passion!)

"Don't let them in, don't let them see, be the good girl you always have to be"
(you can let me in, let me see, let me know everything, talk to me about 
-everything- ok? and yes, being the good girl, that seems like a great idea, always is probably impossible, but I'll settle for most the time...)  

or

 "No right, no wrong, no rules for meeeee!"
(uh, yes young lady, you do have rules and they are to continue to be obeyed, please and thank you)  

or

"Turn away and slam the door." 
(we don't slam doors in this house, that is frowned upon, much too noisy)

or

"That perfect girl is gone."
(no, wait, you'll really still be my perfect girl right? Well, perfect is a pretty high standard, but you'll still be my sweet little girl forever right?)

I know, I know, I'm a little bit too literal, but those particular lyrics just always rubbed me wrong, and led to the above conversations in my mind, but I just told myself I was being ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.

Then, the epiphany!  After listening to it for the umpteenth time, God showed up, and settled my uneasiness.  God can be found anywhere, even a Disney theme song.  It just took me awhile to catch on.  No one is perfect, no one except Jesus Christ, and this perfect man died an awful, undeserving death on a cross and resurrected three days later so I could be FREE, so I could LET IT GO (whatever "it" is) and find rest and hope in His perfect love.  I get to let God have all of it, everything, I get to let everything go into His hands and be in His control, and that is freeing.  I can't be perfect, all I can do is stay connected to Him and His Word, and do my best to let Him live through me...that, my friends, is worth singing about!!!    

So after this epiphany I did something I should have probably done right off the bat, I asked Selah what she thought the song was about.  So, while listening to the song while I made dinner tonight:

Me: "Selah, what do you think this song is about?"
S: (without hesitation) "GOD!" 

Really? All this time that's what she's thought it was about? I pressed a little further...

Me: "Ohhh, I see! So, how? How is it about God?"
S: "I don't know."
Me: "Do you want me to tell you what I think it is about?"
S: "Sure!"

So then I basically just went through what all I just wrote and got to have another opportunity to share the gospel with my daughter, whose already heard it hundreds of times, but I got to incorporate it into something she really loves.  I also made sure to make it clear, so as not to be confusing later, that the song in the movie isn't necessarily about that , but when I listen to that song, and when I sing those words, that's what I'm thinking about, that is what it means to me.

I don't know when (or if) this song will be replaced with a new favorite, but I think it's safe to say it won't be anytime soon!!  
   

**Ironically, one of my favorite blogs, Momastary, wrote about this very same movie today, read it shortly after posting this!!! Incredibly cool, and incredibly intimidating, her version is WAY better!! Pop on over there (http://momastery.com/blog/2014/01/27/frozen/) and check it out! :) **