Light of the World Ballet: The Lowville Moms' Perspective

Light of the World Ballet-The Lowville Moms’ Perspectives
by Rebekah Zehr, LWB Parent Committee Leader

It’s time to leave, but my daughter is missing a ballet shoe and I’m still trying to pack some version of a healthy-ish supper for the long night ahead.  Did the dog take the shoe?  Finally, we are in the van and pulling out of the driveway.  Wait a minute... a forgotten school book.  Back at the house, the book is retrieved.  Five minutes late for meeting the ballet carpool, I’m sweating and feeling a bit exhausted from the already full day.  What?  There’s snow in the forecast...again!!??

Such is the life of carpooling our LWB dancing daughters from Lowville to Syracuse.

You may be wondering, what in the world were those Lowville mamas thinking??  Why would they take on such a time and financial burden?  Can’t they get their daughters into the local soccer program??  Those are all legitimate questions.  And we have certainly entertained those thoughts.  Our ballet mom carpool consisted of me, Rebekah Zehr (Isabelle’s mom), Karla Green (Mia’s mom), Heather Jennings (Sally’s mom) and Tish Zehr (her daughter Alexi took classes for three years), as well as various grandmas and grandpas.

We caught the vision for LWB about 8 years ago when the company performed at a local church.  We were totally in awe of the dancers who carried themselves with such grace and dignity, to say nothing of their technical abilities.  And then there was the incredible, God Inspired message.  This was a performance that was nothing like anything we had ever experienced. Would our daughters ever be able to be involved in something so powerful?

Fast forward seven years.  Isabelle is a now a Trainee and Sally and Mia are in Ballet 7/ Youth Ballet.  Was our decision to enroll our girls in LWB worth it?  Despite all the late nights (driving through snowstorms, occasional flat tires, fatigue, juggling schedules, missed events in Lowville) the answer is absolutely, without a doubt, YES!  We do not have any regrets.  Why?  Because, simply put, LWB added value to our daughters’ lives.

As we reflect over the past 7+ years that our daughters have been involved with LWB, we each have a message of what LWB has personally meant to each of us.  We hope this encourages you and helps you to see a bigger picture that sometimes gets cloudy when we are exhausted and at the end of our rope.

“The value of LWB is priceless.  Ballet is actually secondary learning to the personal growth of the spiritual learning and Godly role models who speak into their lives.  Worth every penny and time commitment.  Sowing seeds takes time and money but the reward is worth it in the end when they are grown and out the door living for Jesus with a solid foundation.” -Karla Green.

“...What I value, in addition to the excellence in classic ballet training, has been the culture that our girls have taken part in:  a culture of service, humility and honor, and a focus on sharing the gospel, praying for healing-basically I would call it a revival culture.” -Heather Jennings.

And as for me, Rebekah Zehr, I am so impressed by the discipleship my daughter has received.  LWB has been instrumental in shaping her into a Proverbs 31 woman.  Here are parts of that verse that eloquently describe what I’ve seen grow in my daughter: “She is worth far more than rubies...she sets about her work vigorously: her arms are strong for her tasks...she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy...She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  Many women do noble things but you surpass them all.  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”  

I am so grateful to God for placing the opportunity to be a part of this amazing ministry into our laps.  As we three moms drew closer together with a strong commitment to see this crazy idea through, God was so faithful.  Not only did the girls have an incredible experience at the studio, but they became very dear friends.  The friendship that has developed between us moms is very special as well.

As this ballet year is soon drawing to a close, I would invite each of you to reflect on how God has used LWB to grow and shape your daughter.  Thank Him for his goodness in establishing this ministry in your area.  How blessed we are!  And please continue to pray that LWB has as powerful an impact on future generations as it does on this present generation of outstanding, Jesus loving dancers.

  

L-R, Isabelle Zehr, Mia Green, Sally Jennings