My friend Missy has twin boys — Andrew and Emmett. Both are precious with very different personalities even though they were bonded in the same womb for 9 months. Andrew is the cautious, reserved one who doesn’t stray far from mom’s side. Emmett is a different story. He runs like the wind every chance he gets. Although he does always keep mom within his vision, he leaps, jumps, and explores!
Like most people, I have deer in our yard. They can be a pain if my flowers are on their dinner menu, but most of the time we live in peaceful co-existence. However I always say that we have a “Come to Jesus” meeting each spring, and if they eat my landscape they will see Jesus!
I do love to see the new babies. Imagine my delight one morning when I saw the new spotted baby deer emerging from the woods. With his mother close by, he began running and darting from one place to the next – always coming back to where mom was. He fearlessly ran from one place to another. I had met the “Emmett” of the deer kingdom.
As I watched I was reminded of the carefree joy of childhood. Oh to be like a child and delight in just “being.” Do I have the childlike joy of the Emmetts? Where do I find my joy? Have I lost it? Am I so wound up in the “doing” that I have forgotten the “being?”
I grew up quickly and took on adult responsibilities, cooking and cleaning when I was just 10 years old. I had to. Dad had left and mom had to go back to work. I needed to help. I had to give up all the fun things of being 10. That sense of responsibility carries on into my adulthood. I will work before I play. Do I really even know how to play?
Lord, help me find the joy in each day and learn to be free like Emmett.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17