Blonde hair flying in the wind, kicking off their shoes, the two ran through the wet sand, jumping into the swings, laughing as they joyously pumped their legs, back and forth...higher and higher. The rain had stopped just moments before the two appeared in the deserted park. They didn't seem to mind the cold, or large puddles that surrounded them.
The laughs became louder, one lunged forward as the other went back. Just as one of the swings reached its highest point, she propelled herself, arms flapping, soaring like a bird in flight, carefree, until she landed, the force sinking her deep into the sand. Her friend, not wanting to be outdone repeated the acrobatics, unfortunately landing on her backside. They roared in laughter as her friend helped her up. Picking up their shoes, skipping playfully across the grass, water splashing onto their rolled up pants.
I watched as they disappeared around the corner. Their carefree, unabashed delight in the day leaving a smile on my face. These were not children, or teenagers, they were two women. Grown women, delighting in a childlike way. They had not forgotten the pure joy of swinging, flying through the air, skipping & playing in rain puddles.
When was the last time you swung on a swing at a park, ran through rain puddles, slid down a slide? When was the last time you enjoyed each moment of your day without worrying about what others think, how you look doing it, or what tasks await you? Watching these ladies made me want to run towards the swing & do the things I enjoyed so many years ago. Innocent, simple, childlike fun. When was the last time you let go of your daily cares and had childlike Faith? Children possess the following traits that we seem to lose sight of as adults: believing, trusting, forgiving, loving, caring, and sharing.
The Lord has said in order to inherit the Kingdom we need to have Faith like a child. Complete Trust that your Father in Heaven can handle anything. Jesus' sacrifice was to set you free. Don't let life's troubles keep you from all that He's promised you. Pray today for increased, childlike Faith and Trust. Let God handle all your troubles...lay them at His feet in daily Prayer. You will then be able to once again, swing, fly, run, and skip. He wants you to know HIS FREEDOM!
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:14-16
"You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." "O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life." Lamentations 3:57-58
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:21-26
"Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." Lamentations 3:40
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