Just the other day, Kathryn gave me the picture that you see on the right.
I was impressed. Kathryn drew this in watercolor. She gave it to me and it has been in my office ever since. This picture is a keeper. What a thoughtful gift!
Children often give the most valuable gifts.
One Sunday morning, two children (a brother and sister) came into our church building on their way to Bible class. When I saw them, I greeted them:
“What’s going on?”
The sister, about age 8, said “hello” and her brother, about a year younger, just smiled without saying anything. As I passed them, I heard the brother say to his sister “What did he ask you?”
She replied “I don’t know. He says that every week.”
Isn’t childlike honesty great?
Think for a moment about the childlike qualities which may have been a part of your life at one time. As a child, you may have possessed qualities such as:
- Playfulness.
- A lack of self-consciousness.
- An open expression of affection.
- Delight that is expressed without reservation.
- Transparency about your feelings and thinking.
- An open sense of dependency on the care of the adults in your life.
As I read this list, I realize that these wonderful qualities are often dismissed by adults who live in the “real” world. Yes, the world is complicated, unsafe, and at times, unpredictable. At the same time, maybe we have lost something valuable that we first learned at children.
Question:
Is there a particular quality that had as a child, that you would like to recapture?
I haven’t grown up yet in the sense that you mention Jim (except perhaps the last one) and absolutely love it when I find a like-minded spirit! Unfortunately, people who frown on this are such a downer and my being self conscious raises its ugly head. My open expression of affection has made others seen ME as ‘needy’. That makes me at times want to throw up my hands and say, “Go suck a lemon.” I work with seniors and if I (and our other staff) didn’t feel free to be affectionate – they wouldn’t receive loving touch! Never needy because I have a loving hubby and a beautiful affectionate family, and enjoy giving out of my overflow! God is good!
Like you new blog, but wondered where I was!
Karin,
Great comment! Your decision to be who you are may bring a few frowns, but will bless far more people. Good for you in not letting the expectations of a few alter your course.
Thanks for your words regarding the blog. It is under construction and is being upgraded on several fronts. Thanks!
I love this post, and totally agree with Karin’s frustrations. Hopefully, maintaining the childlike love of life is not too exhausting in spite of the pressures of the so-called adults. I will sign off with two of my favorite quotes, which I hope you will agree are quite to the point. The first is my own, the second is not but I can’t find any attribution.
“An Adult is someone who knows when they have to be grown-up, and know when they do not.”
“Children never let circumstances steal their joy.”
Dave,
Like the quotes!
Far too many people lose when we yield to the expectations of a few adults instead of really being who we are.
Thanks for the good comment.
Quick to Forgive ♥♡♥
not harboring & collecting -negatives on others