Gratitude Day 889

Matthew 19:14: “Allow the children to come to me,” Jesus said. “Don’t forbid them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children.”

If you need a little attitude adjustment, spend some time with a 5-year-old.

Seriously.

Suddenly, life feels simpler. Honest. Less complicated.

Why 5-year-olds? They are honest. Brutally. Not jaded. Convinced the world is dime-sized and yet, their oyster.

During the past school year, I volunteered in a kindergarten class most weeks. Sometimes, I helped for an hour. Other times, longer. Each time I volunteered, I walked away smiling, chuckling and with an attitude adjustment.

Every time I walked into the room, at least one kid was THRILLED to see me. They wanted to show me something they had made, a project the entire class was experiencing, or shared some little tidbits from their little lives. These pint-sized bodies told me I was their best friend, asked if I would be their substitute teacher and if I was coming back the following day. Yes, there were the days when I felt like a referee. But every time I hung out with the 5- and 6-year-olds, I walked away with a little different perspective on life.

On their last day of school, the kids presented a play for their parents and grandparents. The teacher asked if I could be present that day. It’s just a busy day, with everyone rounding up what they need to get home on the very last day.

The room was filled with grown adults, with some sitting itty-bitty chairs and some on regular folding chairs. Some of the other support staff who interact with the class made it a priority to listen as the teacher read a book and the kids acted out the story. The fireflies danced. The moon quickly switched to the sun at just the right time. Lots of adults videotaped the entire play.

Afterwards, the teacher thanked the kids and the adults for letting her share in their lives for the past school year. And then, she read this little story that you have probably heard before. Believe me – I needed to hear it again. It’s called, Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.

Maybe, just maybe, the world would be a gentler, kinder, happier place if every day, we lived by these simple, but deeply, important words.

Imagine if we really took these words to heart: to share, be kind, and say you are sorry. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the word, “Wonder” was a daily part of our vocabulary? Hubby Rick is totally convinced an afternoon nap should be a required part of the day.

In this world that often feels too complicated, too fast, simply too much, may we be reminded that 5-year-olds often get it right. And us adults? We, yes, we, have much to learn from them.

I had a day full of work during the day our 5-year-old granddaughter was with me for the day. I set-up my office for the day on the kitchen island and methodically worked through the endless tasks I needed to accomplish. Meanwhile, we set-up a little teashop for her with various pitchers and teapots and cups. She poured water back and forth between the various vessels for over an hour. We both tried her “tea” and ohhhed and ahhhed over it. We declared it the best tea ever.

Did some water get on the floor? Of course. Was it a big deal?

NO.

Later, she asked if we could take a picnic to the nearby park for lunch. I’d made good progress and decided an hour away for a picnic at the park was doable. We gathered a variety of items for our picnic, a soft blanket to sit on and an umbrella just in case the heavy clouds dropped some raindrops on us.

Was it possibly the most important hour of my day?

YES.

Too often, we forget that kids CAN teach us things. Jesus knew this. He welcomed the little people to gather around him and hang out with him. He didn’t see them as a burden. He viewed them as this wonderful opportunity.

So. Should. We.

I will never tire of one of those kindergarteners (actually, they are now first graders!) seeing me at the ballfield and running over to say, “Hi!” I’ve kept a few of their handmade projects in my office where I can simply look at them and smile.

I am fortunate that I have a 5-year-old in my life that I get to see regularly and chuckle when she tells me that, “Grandpa is stinky all the time.” Her wit, inquisitiveness, and desire to learn and understand amazes me. And yes, we talk about flushing and washing our hands and sing songs every time we are together.

And life is good. It is very, very good.

If you don’t have a little person like this in your life, maybe you can put yourself in a place where you can witness their joy and excitement for a bit of time. Or borrow one for a trip to the ice cream shop. Believe me. You’ll be the better person for it. And can we please not forget that the things we learned in kindergarten really are quite important and how we should live our lives?

I pray we can.

Thank God for the opportunity to learn and remember life-long lessons from kindergarten.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – Thank you for the special teachers that You brought into my life. May the lessons that I learned at this age remain with me and always as an important part of my life. Amen.

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