I Hope You Dance: My Freetirement Song

The last week of school, as the seniors were giving their "moment in the sun" speeches, one student asked if she could play a song on the computer--it was a song her dad played for her whenever she began a new era in her life--middle school, high school, graduation. The song was Lee Ann Womacks's "I Hope You Dance." It was the song the students used when they had a celebration at school for my fretirement--it was the background music to the video presentation. I asked that it be sung at the freetirement gala, but the singer wanted to sing another song (which was fine).
Then----I went to see Tyler Perry's "The Family That Preys Together" and to my surprise, the song was featured in the movie. I was ecstatic, because I knew the power of that song. I came home so elated that my dear husband recorded the song by three different artists for me. Then last night he brought me the words to the song (I was already in bed). I want to share these words with you (if you can find the music, you will be thrilled). (I am a closet country music lover because of the great stories).

I Hope You Dance
by Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger
May you 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
Hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin'
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone

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

Dance
I hope you dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Dance I hope you dance

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone
I hope you dance
Hope you dance