Our just turned 4-year-old granddaughter could be pretty persuasive…. small hand grasping mine, pulling with all her little girl might…coaxing me out of my inert state into whatever play game or activity has captured her young heart — she knows from past experience just what to do to get Grammy out of the chair.
A hopeful smile…….
A twinkly eye ……
And those coaxing, soft and pleading, heart-tugging words….
C’mon, Grammy…C’mon!!!!
The next thing I know I am no longer sitting in my favorite relaxing place, sipping tea, or busily doing any of the things big people do (you know, all those IMPORTANT things) …
I’m Dora, or Sleeping Beauty’s friend, or a handsome prince come to rescue the beautiful princess after she has fallen off the coffee table cliff…and we’re sprawled on the achy breaky floor, and I’m a visitor in a child’s world with child rules and magical happenings.
Recently we enjoyed a fun snow day at home with our 5-year-old and almost 9-year-old grandchildren. And I had the happy opportunity to see the world once again through the imaginative and joyful eyes of a child.
Snow angels, popcorn and hot chocolate, making snow ice cream, even “playing” with BobSweep, our remote-controlled robot vacuum slave was so much more fun on that day! I did not even mind that our 9-year-old granddaughter repeatedly beat me at Uno, I think about 4 or 5 times (but who’s counting).
I marveled at their creativity as they worked together on their “project” – as a lighthouse took shape, constructed out of a paper towel roll and assorted pieces of cardboard, markers, glue and googly eyes. And I had an opportunity to peek into their tender hearts and minds. Beautiful, creative, trusting, always hopeful. Childish yet in some ways so mature.
Jesus once took a child in his arms and said, ” Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” Jesus often referred to his followers as “my little children”. He also prayed, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” We can learn a lot from children. Joy, enthusiasm, love, thankfulness — these are just a few. Even trust and obedience. We just need to take a few moments every now and then to stop our “important stuff”, take a small hand, and enter their world. It’s a fun, learning place. C’mon, let’s go!
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