Go Play
My son turned 11 yesterday. I bring a birthday treat to his class each year to celebrate his special day. This year, he requested cookies from our favorite local bakery, Blackout Cookie Company.
When I arrived at the school, a group of kids played on the playground. Two girls rocked back and forth as they chatted on swings. One boy climbed up a pole and yelled out in triumph. Another kid hurled a football across the yard. Several kids rushed to catch it, nearly toppling each other. Girls twirled around a pole while others raced up the stairs of the play structure.
The scene was lively, full of adventure and wonder. I thought about how God intentionally created play. Children don't learn how to play. It is an innate instinct that emerges before they begin to walk. Babies grab any object in curiosity, babbling with laughter as they discover how to play with it.
Observe a group of children playing, and you will realize they don't care how they look or sound. They are there to have a good time. They let go of their insecurities and fears.
God created play to allow us to engage with His creation and each other. We release our burdens, drop our overthinking, and relax when we play. We let joy bubble to the surface and forget ourselves. In play, we learn to be present, living fully in the moment.
“Play permits us to step away from our deadlines and never-ending to-do lists. It helps us remember we have a Creator who is not a taskmaster focused on our continuous production.“
Schools know the importance of cultivating room for children to engage in play daily. Why is this value lost in adulthood? Why do we fill our days with work and schedule vacations for six months in the future instead of cultivating a daily rhythm of recess time? A time when we get to chat with a friend as we gaze at the cloudy sky. Or try something new without letting the voices of doubt overtake us.
Play permits us to step away from our deadlines and never-ending to-do lists. It helps us remember we have a Creator who is not a taskmaster focused on our continuous production. He wants us to laugh and experience delight.
Did you know you can play in your storm? Children will play, whether it's snow, sleet, or sunshine. You can, too.
What is one thing you can do to cultivate play this weekend?
In His Love,
Danielle Kelly