You know those things that teachers do that are kinda embarrassing, but for the sake of good teaching…they do it?
Tootie-Ta
I learned ‘Tootie-Ta’ in some education class, sometime in college. It’s a silly song where you lead children to do funny dance moves with the words of the song. For example, the first line of the song is ‘Thumbs up’ and then you sway back and forth while you say ‘tootie-ta’ over and over again…with your thumbs up. It ends with you looking a little crazy but kids LOVE IT!
So…being the resourceful person I am…I use it on the race in just about any situation that I have a group of kids and nothing to do. Which happens more often than you would think. I have used it every single month!
This month my team and I are in a small village in the West African country, Côte D’lvoire. We are surrounded by several families from the village alllll the time because they are living here with us to help us out. Honestly they are just a culture of serving so they are usually here serving us by cooking or cleaning and pretty much not letting us lift a finger.
My teammates and I have been racking our brains for a way to serve them well. We don’t speak their language and our translator isn’t here very often, plus his English is a bit out of practice so we have no idea the best way to serve this community.
One night while I was sitting under the stars with a couple of kiddos surrounding me I decided it was time to serve them…even if it meant making a fool of myself. So I stood up and motioned the kids to follow me. I sang the whole tootie-ta song at the top of lungs with no shame…because in that moment…I was worshiping God.
Tootie-Ta is obviously not my go to worship song but in that moment…and several moments since then…it is a song that brings community, connection, and straight up JOY to EVERYONE in ear shot.
Today, I got to share a little bit of my testimony in front of a nearby school and after that I got to lead those kids in tootie-ta….and you know what!? That was one of my favorite moments of the race so far! I saw more joy in that room than I thought possible. I was worshiping a good Father with a goofy song.
My challenge for you is to do the crazy and silly things that your Father is asking you to do. Tootie-Ta is not my favorite song and I may look like a fool doing it but God has called me to be uncomfortable and to be obedient so I’m gonna sing tootie-ta for the whole world to hear! I worship a good good Father and I will always do the embarrassing and silly things He asks me to do because maybe…just maybe that was the only joy those kiddos will get today.
Blessings,
Niki
