One of my favorite things to do is to walk back to the nursery to visit with our very young children.  This is a habit of mine for as long as I remember.  You can learn much by returning to your roots.  Our usual number of kids there now is two or three.  Sometimes there may be more but this is a good average.  It may be true that my intelligence level is down to theirs which is very possible.  Most of it is that I just enjoy kids about the age of learning to talk or beginning to find their personality.  My journeys to the nursery began before my children were born.  I long ago lost any need for their services but my trips continue. 

Last week our conversations revolved around playdoh, colors and goldfish.  One of our little girls there is American Indian in background.  Pink is her favorite color of playdoh.  She also told me how nice it smells to her.  Her shoes come off at the moment she enters the room.  I was happy to see her sharing her goldfish with the other little boy there.  He is a true redhead with tons of character.  You may need to know that goldfish are small crackers.  They are a staple of any true Baptist nursery.  He and I ate some goldfish that our young Indian shared with us.  We discussed coloring and puzzles while enjoying our meal.  That may be about the most sane conversation I remember in any church.  There were no agendas or egos just three people enjoying the moment. 

Watching children during the holidays should be a positive experience for the most part.  It always bothers me when parents are short tempered with kids while out and about.  You would think we forget that a child tends to act like a child.  Stores purposefully set up the big displays to catch their eye.  Parents must forget what they were like when young.  Then again, this problem affects far too many of us in general.  Count me as one who never wants to forget the simple joys of childhood.  I want to remember the smell of playdoh for what it means.  Learning to color should include the option of going outside the lines if it feels right.  Goldfish really should be a staple for any adult in their diet.  Growing old is often not an option.  Our problem is we grow up far past the age of just being alive.

We tend to forget the simple enjoyment of receiving gifts along the way.  Our leisure takes us from relationships instead of building them.  Being an adult is serious work to be sure.  But when does being a grownup mean that we cannot be as open or creative as our young?  Jesus told us to come to Him as children who have more questions than answers.  Now we tend to present God with our agenda based on our ego while expecting Him to bless it.  Or we get so wrapped up in being a responsible adult we leave no room for the spontaneous.  God cannot even get through to us without an appointment.  Do yourself a favor.  Take a walk to a church nursery or spend time with kids from the elementary.  It will keep you young.  It may even make you buy some goldfish during your next trip to the grocery store. 

Bro. Trey