Seeing It Again For The First Time

Our children are the greatest joy in my and my wife's life. We have three: a 5 year old boy -- Joshua; a 3 year old boy -- Caleb; and a baby daughter (5 months) -- Hannah. As they grow up I'm reminded of what it's like to be a kid again, experiencing life and all it has to offer. I remember those long summer days, hot summer nights -- catching lightning bugs was about the coolest thing that summer brought, well, except for the fireworks on the 4th of July! And it was non-stop from 9am to 9pm. And now I'm watching my boys just live it up not caring one lick that it's 90+ degrees outside. Me? I work in an air-conditioned office all day and I dread the thought of stepping outside for 15 minutes to go grab a bite to eat at lunchtime. But not Josh and Caleb. If they don't have to be inside, they aren't. Climbing trees, swinging on the swingset, running, jumping, hitting rocks with sticks, playing with the dog and cat -- stop for a drink of water -- and off again! Their biggest concern? Exactly how many bites of chicken casserole do I have to eat so Mom and Dad will let me go back outside and play before it gets too dark? Childhood is such a sweet gift from God. God knows how we get as adults and gives us a few brief years to romp around and -- as Thoreau so aptly put it -- "suck out all the marrow of life" before, unfortunately we allow life to suck the marrow out of us. So this Independence Day weekend, stop and be a kid again. Take a cue from the kids -- run and jump and play and enjoy the simple and blessed gift of life all given to us by God.