Get Your Feet Wet

My daughter Hannah went to the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion last weekend and got this great shot she calls, “Hippie Kids.” We don’t know who they are, but all they needed to have a great time that day was a puddle and their bare feet. They were living in the moment, the way I wish I did more often. They were trusting that all was well with the world and were content with life at that moment in time

We can learn a lot about living from children. In fact, if we think hard we can probably remember a lot about living from when we were children. You know, I do remember jumping in puddles … catching lightening bugs … waking up to a whole day ahead of me, filled with nothing but possibilities … and being tucked into bed at night, where I closed my eyes and fell asleep instantly, without a care in the world.

But somewhere along the way to becoming an adult I started picking up responsibilities, which I carried along the road with me. Those responsibilities took time, filling up my days and night, and they often came with worries, additional weight on the path to “maturity.” Don’t get me wrong; I’ve got no regrets. It’s just been a long while since I’ve had time for puddles and lightening bugs. My days are pretty well planned out before my feet hit the floor, and it’s not always easy to fall asleep at night.

Maybe that’s why Jesus said,

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
~ Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

What He was actually talking about here was humility, because the disciples were bickering over who would be the greatest in heaven. (I love to imagine that, if I had been a disciple, I wouldn’t have acted so petty in front of my Lord and Savior … but I probably would have.)

In addition to being humble though, I think we need to trust Him more, like children trust their earthly parents. And we need to count our blessings, but we need to enjoy them, too.

So the next time it rains, thank Him for His provision … then peel off your shoes and socks and get your feet wet. I like this prayer from Garrison Keillor, one of my favorite storytellers:

"Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough."