So let me paint a picture for you of my current view. It is a beautiful sunny Saturday with the perfect 77° temperature. The sky is blue and filled with big fluffy clouds and the breezes bring about the perfect amount of coolness to counteract the little bit of heat threatening to cause me to begin sweating. It is a gorgeous day, to say the least. I am staring at two caramel complexioned children that are the most gorgeous things I have ever seen (no, I’m not partial, ha ha). Mom has been out of town since Wednesday night so it has been Dad and the kids for quite a few days. We have played inside and have now decided to come outside since the sun decided to make an appearance after a cloudy morning. There were a couple of things that I felt needed to be done like washing the car and cleaning the yard but now I’m just spending time watching my children playing. I found myself at one point feeling a little jealous of my children as it seemed like they didn’t have a care in this world. Truth be told…..they don’t. They don’t have to worry about a roof over their head or food for their stomachs because mom and dad have got that covered. There has always been a meal whenever they wanted it. They don’t have to worry about clothes because, of course, mom and dad have that taken care of too. They can simply be children and enjoy life. Their biggest worry today has been attacks from the water monster (a.k.a. the hose pipe) during and after washing Daddy’s car. I wouldn’t take any amount of money for the joy I see on their faces today. They are simply carefree…….and that’s the way it should be.
As I mentioned earlier I found myself at one point experiencing a mild amount of jealousy. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy adulthood. I can make my own decisions. I can choose to purchase anything I want, within reason-of course. But I remember moments from my childhood where I too didn’t have a care in the world. I could simply throw caution to the wind and just live in the moment. I’ll be the first to admit adulthood comes with MORE than its fair share of stresses. Sometimes it seems like life is a juggling act and I’m dropping balls left and right. It can be downright frustrating at times. But I will say this, I intend on allowing my children to BE children as long as they can. I intend to shelter them from the stresses of life as long as they’ll let me. I intend on shouldering any burden I can so that they won’t have to. Here’s the interesting part of this whole dialogue I’ve got going on in my head. No sooner do I think these thoughts and I feel my own heavenly Father saying…. “This is what I desire for you too!” Talk about a slap to the forehead!!!!!! All this time I’ve been worrying about the things I’ll have to do next week and I haven’t truly been able to enjoy THIS moment. Ps. 84:11 reminds us, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” [my emphasis] EVERY – SINGLE – FEELING I have expressed about my own children is the EXACT same way my own Heavenly Father desires to take care of me. WHAT AM I THINKING?!?!?!? Why am I carrying burdens I don’t have the strength nor capacity to tow around?!?!? I know His word tells me, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” [Isa 26:3]
Things seem hard sometimes. Unexpected and tragic things happen on every side. So much happens that is beyond our control but here’s the one thing I CAN control – today I will be as carefree as my children. I’ve got someone looking out for my best interest. As long as I’m being faithful and doing my best He’s going to provide the answers I need before I ever need them. I can go take a couple of passes on the sliding board with my kids because I shouldn’t be stressing. I can go create a work of art with sidewalk chalk because God’s got my back. I can go blow bubbles without worrying about next week because I too don’t have a care in this world. My ‘Daddy’ is watching out for me. It is my true desire that today you can find peace. I hope you can find the joy that He wants to give you. I pray you will allow Him to lift EVERY burden. We know from reading the Bible that God has a soft spot for children. Go be a kid again and let my ‘Daddy’ worry about the big stuff. That being said, If you’ll excuse me I think it is time for the ‘water monster’ to make another surprise appearance and attack a couple of little monkeys. Life is too short to stress or to worry so……don’t!
P.S.—I may need a reminder of these facts when I forget so I hope SOMEBODY is reading this 🙂