Time To Play

If we didn’t have to be so grown-up all the time, we would play more.
We would color if given crayons.
We would play hopscotch if one were drawn on the sidewalk.
We would roller skate down the street jumping over all the cracks.

If we didn’t have adult responsibilities, we would dream more.
We would lay on the grass and see faces in the clouds.
We would climb up in a tree house and stay there until someone found us.
We would pull a friend in a wagon and go around the block.

If we didn’t have so many people tugging at us, we would laugh more.
We would giggle with a friend for no reason.
We would laugh at jokes we heard before even when we know the punch line.
We would be silly just because the laughter feels so invigorating.

I watched a little girl shopping with her grandmother.
She was dancing as little girls do.
She was doing pirouettes in front of the seafood case holding a stuffed animal in her hand.
I wanted to join her so badly.

I wanted to leave my shopping cart and my fifty-five years and dance.
I wanted the big fish in the glass case to look at me astounded.
I wanted to tap into the girl in me that is right below the surface.
I wanted an afternoon to be all the different facets of me.

Everyone reaches their limit of adult-ness.
Everyone, if they were honest, would like a play day.
Can you imagine if we arrange play dates for ourselves?
Maybe we should.

Maybe we should get together with old friends and remember.
Maybe by remembering, we sort out our feelings and put them in their place.
We tend to stuff those memories down when we grow up.
They are part of who we are; they demand to be noticed every once in a while.

All these thoughts came to me after looking at a Facebook post that made me smile.
It simply said: We all mature until somebody pulls out bubble wrap.
I laughed.
It made my morning.

My children used to love whenever a package came that had bubble wrap inside.
I would lay the pieces out on the kitchen floor and they would jump.
And jump, and jump.
The noise of the popping plastic bubbles was deafening with ten feet jumping on them.

They would giggle and laugh and continue to jump until every last bubble was popped.
As I gathered the bubble wrap from the kitchen floor, I would pop the un-popped bubbles.
I would enjoy finishing off what they began.
I felt like Ruth in Boaz’s field since I popped the edges of the bubble wrap that were left.

No one asked, why are you doing that, Mom?
They were oblivious to the popping sound of the last remaining plastic bubbles.
However it was music to my ears.
Childlike music to my grown-up ears.

We must grow and mature.
We must take on adult responsibilities.
But being an adult doesn’t mean we forget how to dream and how to play.
We get rid of childish behavior but hold on to childlike behavior.

Never be too grown up to have a tea party with your little girl.
Never be too grown up to defeat the bad guys before breakfast.
See the monster under the bed for what it is and remember that it once scared you, too.
Slay the dragon with a rolling pin from the kitchen.

G.K. Chesterton said it best.
Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist.
Children already know that dragons exist.
Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.

Play and play often.
Manage a scary adult world with lighthearted humor and whimsy.
Balance a dance in front of the seafood case with the walk of life you journey on each day.
Dream barefoot on the grass with your hands under your head.

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. (1 Corinthians 14:20)

When Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian people, he admonished them.
He lovingly admonished them for their spiritual immaturity.
In regard to evil, Paul warns them to be like infants; pure and innocent.
However in their thinking, Paul admonishes them to be mature, to grow up in their faith.

There is a time to be childlike.
There is a time to play.
However, our thinking and our attitude should be mature and sanctified each day.
Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)

I imagine that Jesus had a wonderful laugh.
From God’s Word, we know that He enjoyed Himself at weddings and parties.
I imagine Jesus was very childlike and might have even danced on occasion.
He never once walked away from His duties and responsibilities.

Jesus was mature yet childlike.
Jesus was serious yet enjoyed the children around Him.
I imagine Jesus on the shoreline admiring the clouds that He made.
I imagine Him with a twinkle in His eye as He made breakfast for His disciples.

Imagining Jesus as a stuffy person, who was aloof and unapproachable, is wrong.
Jesus had a childlike spirit while doing His Father’s will.
Jesus was mature in His thinking but playful in His attitude.
The perfect combination.

Jesus always seemed to have time.
He resolutely set his face towards Jerusalem, but He was always interrupted.
Jesus never seemed to be bothered when He was detoured.
Jesus saw each encounter as significant and important.

If Jesus had time, what is our excuse?
If Jesus had patience when He was interrupted, shouldn’t we?
Maybe if we stopped and dreamed a bit more, we would have a more playful spirit.
Slay the dragons, dance before the fresh fish, and fight the bad guys.

But, always do it in His name.

 

2 responses to “Time To Play”

1. Oh Gina, this is so true! We need to give ourselves the gift of being childlike sometimes. As an artist, I often play with art materials, no finished objective in mind, and it is so much fun! Everyone needs a day out by themselves, doing something we enjoy, with only Jesus by our side.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     We are very serious when it comes to being “grown-ups” aren’t we? Yes, a time to play is in order and a good belly laugh as well. The joy of the Lord in the little things.
     Gina

     Reply