Have you ever come across anything that made you feel like a child again? Was it at the fair or maybe a playground? For me, it’s the grocery store and Christmas stockings.
Did you furrow your eyebrows at that combination?
When I was growing up, I looked forward to going to the grocery store. It wasn’t because I wanted the cookies and candies. Well, that’s not exactly true. While I did want those goodies, I absolutely loved the toy section. Most grocery stores have a small section with toys. Next time you go, look for it. You will probably see wonderous packs full of little toys like: cars, dolls, kitchen stuff, and games. Also, there are paddles with balls.
Best of all, back when I was a kid, these toys cost cents on the dollar. Being so cheap, it was usually easy to talk my mom or another family member into buying a pack of toys. Now, if my Papaw or Mamaw Holbert were with us, I knew I was leaving with a few packs of toys. I couldn’t wait to get home and play with my new little treasures.
I also felt the same way about the small presents that were in my Christmas stocking. When I was very small, my mom made me a special stocking. She wrote my name out is glue and then she sprinkled gold glitter on it. I made my daughter Sara one when she was still a little girl. Let me tell you, there’s nothing so like seeing your name in gold glitter. Everybody should have that experience at least once in their lives.
On Christmas mornings, I would run into the living room to find my stocking stuffed with little goodies. But I couldn’t open the presents without my parents watching, so I would take my full stocking and run into my parent’s bedroom. Then I would jump onto their bed and wake them up. It was the only time they didn’t complain about me waking them up too early. Each time I opened a present, they would say, “Ooh!” or “Aahh!”
“…Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 (KJV)
There are a few different opinions of what Jesus is referring to in this verse. I am going to look at two. First, children are dependent on their parents. As Believers, we should always be aware of our dependance on the Lord and not on our own abilities and ambitions. Second, children have a way of looking at the world with eyes of wonderment. I think we take a lot of God’s creation and handiwork for granted. This is more than the beauty of nature. It is also appreciating the beauty in other people.
So do something to feel like a kid again. I am not talking about taking a kid’s turn at the playground. Wait your turn and wave at me because I will probably be on the swings.
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.