Find Joy

People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” (Luke 18:15-17 MSG)

Grandparenting.  There is simply nothing life has to offer that can top it.  Can I get an AMEN from you other grandparents out there?  I just love the squeals of laughter that come from 14-month-old Emma when we play peek-a-boo, or when her Uncle Daniel lifts her high in the air or when she plays on the floor with her daddy.  I love the joyful jumping from 5-year-old Cecelia when she beats her daddy at a video game or she plays Hide-From-Kaymee with Opah.

Small children get so much pleasure out of the simplest things.  They laugh and giggle and dance and squeal with delight over the wind blowing a leaf in a circle or a ball rolling towards them or a Christmas tree with lots of blinking lights.  When do we lose that?  Is it when we discover the "how" behind the miracle?  Do we stop laughing at peek-a-boo when we suddenly understand that the blanket didn't really make us disappear?

Jesus tells us that we should have the faith of a child.  I don't think that means we shouldn't try to grow in our faith, but I think we need to retain a certain amount of innocence.  The kind of innocence that makes us stand in awe of even the miracles that don't seem like miracles anymore.... a sunrise, popcorn, fireflies, Autumn leaves, Spring blooms....

Gratitude brings back that sense of awe... that delight in the simplest of things.  Ann VosKamp puts it this way:  "How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it!"  Just hanging out with your grandchildren for an hour can bring so much joy.  And not just because you love your grandchildren, but because they know how to find joy and they give it to you.   You don't have to wait until they come again to be that joyful.  Find it yourself in the most simple of things.  Then you can share it with them next time.

Father,
Help us to find the joy in the simple things again as we look through the eyes of a child.  Bring us the wonder and awe of this amazing and beautiful world.  Amen.