Don’t Grow Up

Have you ever interacted with a baby, and seen a grin spread wide over their face as a deep, gut busting laugh echoes from their lungs— just from playing peek-a-boo?

How is it that something so simple can be so amusing and bring such joy? Sometimes it just takes smiling at a baby to get them to smile and laugh back at you.

In the progress of growing up, we can sometimes loose our sense of child-like wonder and joy, or only tap into our joyous self every once in awhile.

I am a firm believer in never letting my inner child die. After all, the Bible calls us children of God (just saying). Perhaps that’s why I’ll always laugh at a good pun, or a poop joke. But sometimes I notice inner-child me being replaced by adulting, weight-of-the-world-upon-my-shoulders me. This is especially true when I get focused on the “reality” of life, or responsibilities start to weigh me down.

That is also the reason while I’ve helped to introduce Nerf guns to my work office.

What? Children’s’ toys?

Yes!

It originally started when I bought my mom, my grandma, and I Nerf guns and put them in our stockings for Christmas. It was fun to have a little Nerf-fight Christmas Day, dodging behind furniture. So, I thought my coworkers and I might enjoy the same.

It’s amazing what a quick Nerf gun fight at work can do to help de-stress, let loose, and bring a smile to someone's face. The opportunity to play for a few minutes and have fun helps re-energize you to get all your work done. Some people take a smoke break, so why not take a Nerf gun break?

Yes, it seems silly and immature. But, I believe that is only the pride of an adult who sees themselves as above such childish things. My experiences with God totally confirm that He can be silly and has a great sense of humor.

The art of playing and having fun shouldn’t be limited to children. Kids of all ages (3,5, 27, 65) should have fun. Life is too short to be stoic and pompous. After all it is the joy of the Lord that is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). And God wants you to have fun through this race we call life.

By putting our complete trust in God, we get to relax knowing that our Father will never let us down. As Christians, we are called to “cast all our cares” before Jesus. It’s in trusting Him that we literally get to be care-free (and perhaps a bit childish).

Check out this awesome video on the importance of having fun:

So, as the video states, don't be afraid of having fun. Perhaps buy a Nerf gun and have a Nerf fight with family and friends, play hide-and-go-seek, finger paint…you get the point. You have permission to have fun and be silly. Return to a child-like state and know that your Father holds you in the palm of His hand.