Thankful Thursday: It’s Childs Play!

Growing up can mean that life gets more complex. We study budgets instead of bugs. We read e-mail instead of Dr. Seuss books. We juggle schedules instead of toys, and “having a full plate” doesn’t have anything to do with dinner. That’s why, when my life gets particularly “grown up,” I love to spend time watching my grandchildren play.

Take last Sunday, for example. Two-year-old Mason was sharing his Mr. Potato Head creations with Papa (David). He’d dash in Papa’s office with one and announce “This daddy.” Then, a few minutes later, he’d emerge with another one, proclaiming “This mommy.” Finally, his self-portrait: “Mace-Mace." When David asked where baby sister Lilly was, Mason, gasped “OH!” and ran from the room to craft a final potato head for “Wee-Wee” (that’s as close as we get to “Lilly.”) Each potato head was a hilarious combination of features: three ears here, two sets of eyes there, hands where the eyes should go… you get the idea. But the glee in Mason’s experiment was hypnotic to watch and made me grateful that I have children in my life.

Whenever your life gets a little on the “grown up” side, watch a child play with complete trust and delight. It will refresh you, rejuvenate you, and remind you that sometimes the biggest joys in life come from the smallest people in our lives.