I have decided that being a grown-up has a lot of advantages but has its drawbacks, as well. It’s days like this that I wish I was in kindergarten having story-time with milk and cookies and naptime afterward. I wouldn’t have to be around big people with their big problems and their big agendas. I could lose myself in Dr. Suess–land where life is simple and characters are colorful and don’t have to make sense. Okay, I realize that this may be idealistic and rather immature, but being in touch with one’s inner child is supposed to be a good thing, right?! Well, mine is wanting to scream, “Stop the world; I want to get off”! I want to run out to recess and swing as high as I can, then climb the monkey-bars and sit atop pretending I am the queen of the playground like I used to! Why do we wish to grow up so fast and leave our care-free days behind? I think I will imagine that I am a kid again and go outside to the lush green meadow by my beloved Grandma’s house and look up to the clouds as I lie there. I will imagine that God and I have story-time, and He is reading to me something that sounds a lot like my favorite Dr. Seuss, and it would go something like this:
So here we are, My little lamb, it’s Me, it’s Me, the God I am
I hear you don’t like the world big, you do not like it in a box,
you do not like it wearing socks, you do not like it with p.b. and jam,
I’m listening, says God I am.
I hear you don’t like the people big, you do not like them with green hair,
you do not like them anywhere, you do not like them screaming loud,
you do not like them preened and proud, your list is long, my fax has jammed,
but I am reading it, says God I am.
Now I see you don’t like life so grown, it’s not always fun just on your own,
you do not like it when there’s bills, you think they should come wearing frills,
you don’t like them in your mail, they make you want to cry and wail,
I hear you and I understand, I really do says God I am.
There’s more, there’s more, the list still goes, there’s more dislikes, there’s lots more woes?
There is more complaining and pouting, too? There’s more of what these grown-ups do?
Like lie and cheat and hurt your heart, and zig and zag your life apart,
and do it with a knife and smile, and leave you crying all the while,
and do so without a care of how they caught you unaware,
my, but this is getting dreary, no wonder you have gotten weary.
I hear you still, I really do, but it’s My turn to talk to you.
You will always be My little one even though growing up is not so fun
but I am with you every minute so take Me along so I am in it,
and it may not be all that bad if you let Me just be your Dad,
to teach and love but dry your tears, to chase away monsters and calm your fears,
because I love you and you’re not alone, I am here now that you’re grown,
I’ve always been your biggest fan,
Love,
Yours Truly,
God I am.
Sometimes, the kid in us needs to have a temper-tantrum and let God kiss our boo-boos and bandage our bruises. That’s the balm of Gilead that Jesus talks about and so lovingly applies to our wounds. We do not have to be justified in our hurts - just hurting alone qualifies us for His ministry to you and me. He is there to teach us instead of lecture when we have ill-feelings. Our feelings are ill and need healing, and a big dose of His love is the best prescription. Life in God can have child-like simplicity even when the characters are colorful and don’t make sense - it still makes for a good story-time.
