PLAYING PRETEND

I distinctly remember playing pretend.

 

I'd go on loooong journeys, traverse uncharted territory, excavate buried treasure in the cliff aside our house.

 

Of course, I always had many children. Stuffed animals, dolls, they'd come with me on my journeys and I'd be sure to take good care of them...especially when perilous storms set in or a dangerous river required bravery while crossing.

 

I'd climb the tree out front with my children tied securely to my waist. I'd harness them to myself with some sort of rope/belt combination. I'd perch up high in the leaves and dream. I loved playing pretend.

 

Now, here I am...Mommy still to many children, yet with real life treks, rivers, and valleys to forge. In real life time I press on and still dream. I ponder tomorrows and marvel at the sights and sounds of my children, the ones now playing pretend.

 

 A crock pot of thyme, lentils, root veggies, onion infuse the house with smells of home. Cinnamon, clove, apple, nutmeg
steam atop the stove. Yams and roasting garlic permeate the kitchen as the oven warms the room and my soul.

Fall has arrived indeed.

 

I sit here still and breath it in, ponder, listen, pray. I cherish little voices from outside. They pretend like me.

Piano gentle in the other room, giggles and bustling as sprinkles precipitate...finally...after all they've waited all day!
I take it in and remember when...

Someday they'll be big like me.

 

But, for now, they're small. What a gift.

How blessed, the innocence of play.

Jesus loves the little children...and so do I. He beckons our hearts to faith such as these.

 

The girl has grown and here she sits, living the days she once dreamed.

I thank the Lord, pray for childlike faith, and cherish their playing pretend.

 

 "And they were bringing children to [Jesus] that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them,

'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."

Mark 10:13-16