I strategically hid behind the couch waiting for my 3-year-old grandson to come around the corner. He cautiously approached but he could not avoid the perfectly launched cotton ball that hit him right between the eyes. The cotton ball slid down his face and dropped to the ground. We both squealed with delight. Without hesitation he launched a handful of cotton balls my direction and the battle was on!
It only took a few seconds before my dog Huckle joined in. Gobbling up cotton balls as quickly as we were throwing them. Attempting to make sure the dog did not consume our homemade indoor snowballs added an irritating but challenging element to the fun.
There was a contagious sense of wonder and pleasure enticing the observing adults to join the excitement. However, the blockade of tangible resistance between adulthood and childhood proved difficult for them to break through.
Finally, the beckoning cotton balls were too much to resist! The barrier was broken and before long all 4 adults, one teenager, one dog, and one grandchild were enthusiastically running, ducking, hiding, throwing, eating, and enjoying the fight. Cotton balls flying by handfuls and laughter filling the room.
Young children unapologetically embrace the abundant wonder and magic of life. Without hesitation they engage in games real and pretend in a never-ending journey of childhood joy.
Even the most seemingly insignificant things adults take for granted or find annoying, children see as gateways to opportunity and adventure. Rain puddles, mud pies, potato bugs, sticky fingers, screaming for no reason, and all forms of silliness are often the catalyst for grand expressions of happiness.
Joy and happiness seem effortless for children because they do not wait for someone else to provide it. They find it all around them in almost everything they do.
Children believe in the impossible, probable, and magical not because they have to, but because they want to. It often seems doubt is slowly introduced as adulthood begins to infiltrate childhood. Far too soon the simple and abundant marvels of life are replaced by the skeptical ideas of grown-up reality.
For many adults the beauty to believe is lost in the expectation of scientific proof which frequently results in the believable appearing unbelievable.
Things of wonder do not disappear. They are abundant and ever present but are often seen through the lens of belief. Questioning, wondering, pondering, and studying may add to our belief or disbelief. But in the final analysis stepping away from what we do or do not believe is a choice.
Life manages to throw curve balls consistently and accurately. Difficult circumstances in all their varied forms may cause dreams to fade and trust in what we believe to be altered. Childhood monsters under the bed may manifest in the ugliness life sometimes holds.
Beautiful belief becomes distorted as hard parts of life systematically validate our greatest fears. The once childlike belief that fills life with hope roams chaotically in the mystery of “why?” Painful experiences, negative interactions, and disappointments seem to mock belief in an effort to distract us from important life lessons in all their varied forms. The reality of what we see right in front of us blurs the possibility that lies ahead of us.
Whether we like it or not the process of growth persists and through tremendous grace the childlike part of hope reminds us to branch out and believe. Throughout life belief’s change in both positive and negative ways and in the end what we decide to believe determines how we live.
Belief affects how we see ourselves, the world, possibility, and others. It may be tempting to allow the opinions of others to influence personal belief. But if you are searching to find answers concerning things worth believing ask the person who gave us belief in the first place. Ask God.
God knows the beginning from the end and always tells the truth. He does not force us to believe anything because our growth comes from using agency in deciding what we choose to believe. Human beings are easily distracted but God is patient and is always available for wise and purposeful consulting.
What do you believe? The brain believes what you tell it. If you believe you are worthless, nothing goes your way, life is always unfair, people are mean, God doesn’t care, and others have it better than you, your brain will believe you and you will live life accordingly.
The truth is most people have experienced feeling worthless. Sometimes things do not go your way. Life is definitely not always fair. Sometimes people are mean. At times it may feel like God doesn’t care. Some people do have it better than we do. That’s life!
But we are here to live life, not allow life to live us. We have the agency and intelligence to unlearn ourselves right back to the magic that is rightly ours. The things we believe do not keep us from experiencing problems or pain. But what we believe about those things has a profound impact.
Children are born with the capability of seeing things as they really are. Without embellishment, distortion, or comparison. They do not question what they believe because they know what they know in their heart and that is enough.
During this Christmas season there are amazing things to believe. Some of the magic falls under the category of fantasy and offers whimsical happiness. Some is spiritual and offers eternal joy. Children around the world from every walk of life seem to have no trouble believing both and their belief creates a warmth and even a longing that is difficult to describe.
The dreams of what could be and the potential of wishes coming true are captured in what children believe and during Christmas that spills over onto adults in the most amazing way.
Children embrace daily joy all year long because they see and believe it. They understand the value of a cookie, playdates, a blankie, or a hug. They are mesmerized by flowers, butterflies, and clouds. They are thrilled by a slide, twirling in circles, or going for a walk. They see miracles and are anxious to show their appreciation to the maker of miracles by their enthusiasm. They are born to believe the beautiful. They not only see realities and magic of today, but the wonders and possibility of tomorrow.
No wonder Jesus Christ directed us to become as a little child.