Embracing Life With a Child-Like Wonder

Let me say how overwhelmed I have been by all the calls, emails, and comments left in response to my post. Your words of encouragement have meant a great deal to me. Indeed, I feel loved.

The loss of a loved one is never easy, yet it is something that we all must deal with at some point in our lives. All of this has caused me to think a great deal about those who have gone before me and about what their counsel would be regarding how to deal with loss. I particularly seem to be able to hear my father's voice and he is telling me one thing - "Do what everyone has to do in the face of loss. Embrace life and go on living even while you greive and while you remember." So that is the task that I have set for myself this week. I will grieve and I will remember and I will honor those who have gone before me by EMBRACING LIFE! In capital letters!

As is often the case, whenever I want to learn how to approach life, I only have to observe the children around me. Children are so good at embracing life. All you have to do is take a walk around the block with a two year old to be reminded of this. My oldest son, Matt, was quite possibly the most exuberant child I ever knew. I will never forget one walk we took through the park when he was a toddler. As usual, he was ahead of me running at full speed when suddenly he came to a screeching halt, knelt down, carefully parted the blades of grass, and picked up a tiny pebble. He carefully placed the pebble in the palm of his hand and ran back to me exclaiming, "Look, Momma, see the pretty rock!" I will never forget the sight of his face, glowing with sheer wonder. Children notice everything; I don't even know how he saw the pebble buried in the grass. But he did and for him the world stopped as he discovered and shared this tiny bit of God's creation with me. He was embracing life fully and I am so thankful that he shared his joy with me.

Recently I came across a wonderful book that reminds us of the importance of embracing life. The book, by Patti Digh, is entitled life is a verb. I particularly enjoyed the story of one man who asked a group of five year olds how many of them could sing . As only five year olds can do, they all felt they were excellent singers and every hand shot up immediately! He asked how many could dance - he got the same response. Painters? All of them, of course!

Later, he visited a group of college students and asked the same questions. Sadly, this time no one raised their hands.

In response to this story, Patti Digh asked, "What happened in those years between five and eighteen, to our sense of joy and possibility and personal command of the universe?" Good question. I have to ask myself what happened to my personal command of my universe. At some point we mask ourselves and lose our self confidence. Maybe it's our fear of ridicule that causes us to wall ourselves off. Maybe it's our fear of appearing childish that prevents us from allowing ourselves to still be surprised by life. After all, what would others say if you were to run through the park shouting with glee when you spotted a pebble?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could approach adult life with the same enthusiasm that children do? Just image it. "Hooray! A two hour meeting to review policy and procedure!" Well, maybe we don't have to go that far. But perhaps we can find a way to give voice to the astonishment and joy of our inner child. Why don't you join me this week in the following exercise.

1. Allow yourself to be inspired by the following texts:

Psalm 118:24

Proverbs 8: 30-31

2. Journal, think about, or share with a friend five things from your childhood that brought you to a screeching halt with a feeling of sheer joy. Close your eyes and recall how you felt when encountering these things.

For me, I would have to include butterflies, dandelions, sand dollars, fireflies, and oil tankers at sea. As a child I spent many joyous hours chasing colorful butterflies, blowing the "angel hair" from dandelions, feeling the sun on my shoulders while digging for sand dollars, trying to catch fireflies on a warm summer night, and wondering where the oil tankers were sailing (I was sure that my Uncle Norman was aboard one of the ships and was sailing from some exotic port to see me). Little else existed in the world when engaged in these activities. I felt nothing but awe, pure joy, and best of all there were no expectations as to how I should act in response to these experiences.

3. Journal, think about, or share with a friend five things in your adult world that would bring forth a shout of joy if you were not afraid of ridicule.

I am putting on my list laptop computers (aren't they amazing?), golden retrievers (they are so devoted), a really great handbag (need I say more?), my lemon zester (yes, my lemon zester!), and dandelions (still love to see angel hair floating through the air). Resolve to act like a five year old. Everytime you see one of the items on your list, say out loud, "Wow! A _______!" For me that would be, "WOW, A LEMON ZESTER!" If that is too embarrassing for you, then at least think it with as much enthusiasm as possible. Think it in CAPITAL LETTERS! This week remember what it is like to be a child. Embrace life with child-like wonder!

My blessing for you this week: May you journey to the place where joy and wonder are born. May you dwell there immersed in the joy of God's creation. May you come out dancing and live a life filled with wonder and delight!

I hope some of you will take the time to share your "joy lists" with the rest of us. I would love to know what brings joy into your life. If you would like to do so, please add them as a comment below.

Thanks for taking the time to forward this link to your family and friends. My post last week was read by people as far away as Canada and Indonesia! Let's see if we can keep the momentum going.

God bless each of you. My life is better because of you. I'll post again next week.