You ever listen to a song that you used to love and listen to a bunch, but just haven't heard it in a long time? I was bee-bopping around in my kitchen, listening to one of my West Coast Swing playlists, when Shackles (Praise You) came on. I smiled, as I haven't heard it in a long time, and remembering why I enjoyed listening to it so much. The song is basically about being free from the things that have imprisoned us - held us back - for so long, and rejoicing in/with Christ and His character, since He's the One that has given us that freedom and set it into motion. At least that's how I interpret it. I've always loved that song. Other than being a West Coast, it's one that just holds special meaning as I can relate to it with many trials that have happened in my life. It reminds me of all of the things that no longer have a hold of me anymore and the sweetness that that holds. But this time hearing it, it really hit home. Less than 10 seconds into the song I got hit with how perfect that song really is for me. I stopped in the middle of my dancing and was like, "Oh my goodness . . . sexual abuse". This may not make sense grand scale, so let me explain. Because of the sexual abuse that I encountered in my childhood, I completely shut down with certain things. I was completely imprisoned by fear, vulnerability (not the good kind), feeling unsafe, lies, etc. I really did feel trapped by it, and I didn't see any way of getting out of those mindsets and fears. So, there's the "chains" part, but here's the other bit : I deal with a lot of physical issues. It's not near as bad as it used to be, but I still struggle with them. We've come to find in the past year that the cause of most of my issues - sacrum, pelvis, hips, back, etc - are because of my pelvic floor. I could get into all sorts of detail about this, but basically I hold the majority of my anxiety and stress there (I know, you super needed to know that). Because of that, and the trauma of the sexual abuse, those muscles are super tight, which is throwing off other areas of my body and just making life difficult. It's because of that that I had to stop dancing years ago. I hit a point a month or two back where I wasn't able to progress with my physical therapy or my OMT because I had to first take care of the psychological issues surrounding my sexual abuse and relearn how to deal with stress and anxiety and carry it somewhere else, giving my body the ability to function properly. Still not quite fully there, but there have definitely been some big improvements. Why on earth does my pelvic floor bring special significance to this song? Sexual abuse is the reason for my chains. But it's also, I believe, a root cause of why I couldn't dance for so long. So when I hear those words, instead of the lyrics what I hear is You've freed me from my abuse so that I can now heal and dance once more. I can't articulate the joy that bursts through me when I hear that! It's not only coming to a place of healing mentally and emotionally, but physically, too. He has freed me from the thing that has held me back for so long, in so many ways. And you bet your britches I'm gonna praise Him for that! Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you I just wanna praise you You broke the chains now I can lift my hands And I'm gonna praise you I'm gonna praise you In the corners of mind I just can't seem to find a reason to believe That I can break free 'Cause you see I have been down for so long Feel like the hope is gone But as I lift my hands, I understand That I should praise you through my circumstance Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance I just wanna praise you I just wanna praise you You broke the chains now I can lift my hands And I'm gonna praise you I'm gonna praise you Everything that could go wrong All went wrong at one time So much pressure fell on me I thought I was gon' lose my mind But I know you wanna see If I will hold on through these trials But I need you to lift this load Cause I can't take it anymore Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance I just wanna praise you I just wanna praise you You broke the chains now I can lift my hands And I'm gonna praise you I'm gonna praise you Been through the fire and the rain Bound in every kind of way But God has broken every chain So let me go right now Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance I just wanna praise you I just wanna praise you You broke the chains now I can lift my hands And I'm gonna praise you I'm gonna praise you
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