I love kids.
Broken record, I know.
But seriously. I love them.
Yes, they are adorable and spontaneous and completely random. But most of all? They are free.
Spending thirty seconds in the presence of a thriving child is like wiping nasty gunk from the lens of my life. Kids never cease to remind me of living in fullness, of refusing to conform to social standards, of pursuing radical ideals and big dreams knowing that failure doesn't mean you've reached the end. Weight and pressure and worry find no corners to occupy their precious little minds, and there are few things I love more than watching their curiosity and thirst for adventure run rampant.
I'm remembering a particular scene tonight. I was living in Sacramento, and the red-headed brothers were out front with some neighbor boys. I could hear them loud and clear with all the windows open, and continued to rearrange the furniture in my freshly painted room. Ankle deep in bedding, picture frames, and dirty clothes, my city momma swing opens the door with a huge grin on her face and an impending message in her eyes. She had gone for a quick run (literally, she was running. on her feet. she's my hero.) to pick up the littlest from daycare several streets down, and while turning the corner back home, had been mobbed by all the kids in our front yard.
"They want you out there," she said.
"Huh?" I retorted, slightly surprised they were asking for me. It looked muddy out there.
Apparently the following conversation had taken place when she turned the corner:
four year old Evan: "Henry, where's your sister?"
Hen: "She's not my real sister. She's just my sister for now. She's really my cousin."
E: "Oh."... long pondering pause... "well where is she?"
Hen: "She's in the house."
E: "Why?"
Hen: "She's working on stuff."
E: "Well, can you tell her she needs to come out?"
Hen to momma: "Can you tell Alyssa she needs to come out here?"
I giggled at the exchange. Didn't matter who I was, they just wanted someone to play. There really was no choice- I was being summoned by a four year old so what I could I really do? I put on flip flops and grabbed a sweatshirt just in case. I trooped down the hall and out the door. I saw my little friends huddled on the sidewalk dancing around a new toy car Charlie had just received. Their eyes fell on me, and the next thing I knew I was dancing too.
I spent over an hour with these five little cowboys, playing and racing. Tag came along naturally. Red face and wind chapped, I was having the time of my life. I can picture every single second of it in slow motion like it was just yesterday. The boys demonstrated their ninja kicks, and three year old Sam's declaration that "I'm good at everything I do" set me into a fit of laughter. Of course he wasn't the best at tag or ninja kicks, and come to think of it, I'm sure he came in last on every race. But losses don't define greatness. So in my heart, and in his, he was great. No argument there.
Departing the scene to head back inside, smiles and contentment were in order. My heart was filled with something beautiful, magical even; but whatever it was in that moment, I was relishing, not analyzing. However, as I look back today, it's filled with more introspection. How could playing tag and racing small little souls bring me so much joy? And then I was reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 18:3 when he said "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Somehow in the span between childhood and adulthood something begins to choke us, to take a part of our very core, to deform the freedom inside of us. I would surmise that God isn't exactly a fan of this chokehold. In fact, bondage isn't even an option for a child of God, for He is committed to setting the captives free.
Kids seem to lack fear, anxiety, and depression for the most part. My goodness, I've seen kids leap into a pool when they don't even know how to swim. But they're fearless because they know daddy is waiting with open arms to catch them. That's what God is reminding me today. He wants us to know Him so well, that we can simply rest. We can hang up our fears. We can laugh and play and ninja kick with the best of them.
If God is telling us to become more like children, then I think it's honestly really simple. Laugh more. Let go of things more quickly. Be confident in who we are, even when we're not the best. Embrace life. Cherish others. Get up and scrape our knees off when we fall down.
If I'm a child, then I know my daddy is there. and if I know my daddy is there, then there is just no reason to fear. at all.
Let's be kids again.
I think it will be way more fun.
And maybe, just maybe... we will begin to approach Jesus with new eyes to step into the most creative way we can run this race for Him.
Love,
Lyss
