When I taught the elementary grades, my litmus test for the children’s well-being was to observe them during recess and ask, “Do they have a skip in their step?”

Even a child at rest will swing a foot, shrug a shoulder, or sway. I’ve learned skipping is a universal expression of joy. My children would skip in the recess line, on the playground, and to their desks when they returned to the classroom. It’s in a child’s DNA to skip.

Perhaps we should learn from their example and skip too, in the spiritual sense. We might not be able to skip in the natural realm, but that doesn’t prevent us from having a joyful spirit. In the spirit, we can skip as high as we can imagine.

THE JOYFUL, SKIPPING BRIDE

How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O princes’ daughter! The joints of thy thighs are like jewels; the work of the hands of a cunning workman. ~Song 7:1-2 KJV

In Song of Solomon, we, the Bride of Christ, are allegorically portrayed as a princess wearing gorgeous shoes and with jeweled thighs. We can skip with reckless abandon just as a child does. Why? Skipping sandals adorn our feet, and they are pretty. (Men, this doesn’t leave you out.)

Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. ~Song 7:11-12 KJV

We say in response, “Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early.” This portrays us skipping to our workplaces, and Jesus is right beside us, empowering us to serve effectively. The people we disciple and those we bring into the kingdom are “my loves.” He gladly receives them, as He also receives us.

OUR BEGINNINGS

Our beginnings might not have been glorious. In Song 1:5-8, our head is down, we are downcast, our shoulders are drooping, and problems overwhelm us, and we’ve lost our way. But this scenario changes when we tell Jesus we need Him to be Lord of our lives. And over time, our lives become a fruitful garden. We skip as we enjoy our new life in Him.

Our Beloved shines His light on every one of the shadowy places in our lives until only His glory remains. But this is not something we do on our own. He does this for us as we reveal our needs to Him. In this process, He creates in us a joy no circumstance can take away.

Beloved Jesus is not daunted by one challenge that we face. He lifts our head, takes our hand, and offers to become our Groom. He leaps like a joyful gazelle because we come to Him. Yes, He also is skipping. And He is skipping for joy because of His love for us.

Imagine the great joy He works within us by the time He gives us our skipping sandals. Those beautiful shoes and sparkly joints are His gift to the Bride He adores. 

Bride of Christ, your Beloved Groom has created you to skip. So reach into the spiritual realm, take your Savior’s hand, and skip with Him today. Beloved approves, so leap for joy.

Imagine that your Groom is skipping beside you, because it’s true.

My Beloved Bridegroom Jesus Christ, I trust You to create within my spirit a beautiful skip. Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2019: Skip: Diane Virginia: All Rights Reserved