February 08, 2020

Like A Child By Vickie Stam

Do you remember what it was like to be a child? Every day was a new day. I was excited to wake up in the morning, except for the occasional days when I dreaded going to school. Even so, the world was a big place filled with so many new things to embrace. My family moved several times so there were different homes, different schools and new friends. I always managed to bounce back in the midst of those frightening new possibilities.  

Back then it was okay to throw on a pair of rubber boots and jump in all of the puddles. Playing outside in the rain was fun. Seeing a rainbow appear after the rain was magnificent. Rainbows are still just as compelling. What a magnificent display of nature! Whenever I see one, it suddenly seems to make the world even more beautiful. It can brighten up the most depressing day. 

In Sunday School I learned that a rainbow shows us the power and glory of God. It is a symbol of God's faithfulness, mercy and love. It is only mentioned seven times in the Bible and I'm so glad that I've experienced its beauty much more than a mere seven times. Personally, rainbows make me happy whenever I see one because we do not get to see this amazing display of colours every day.

As a child I loved animals. That love has never faded. The zoo is still as exciting to me as it was all those years ago. Whenever my husband and I travel I always hope there will be a zoo for us to visit. Whenever I hear a child squeal with delight, I want to squeal too. I'm just not sure that my screams would be as appreciated at my age. Yes, I keep my excitement to a softer roar as I smile from ear to ear. I can't help but inhale the drama of a little one's delight along with the enchantment of so many incredible creatures that roam this earth.

Cartoons, Sesame Street and other kids' shows stretched my imagination. Animals could talk and wear clothes - polka dots and stripes along with hilarious hats. I could sing my own version of any song out loud and never worry about what anyone thought. 

Viewing the world like a child can be refreshing. To see the world without so many limits. When I need to feel refreshed, I think God wants us to feel happy. He wants me to sing, go out with a friend, visit the zoo, watch for the rainbow after it rains and open my eyes to new opportunities.    

  

7 comments:

  1. To see the world through child-like enthusiasm and hope. Yes, so refreshing! Thanks for that reminder!

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  2. Thanks for this delightful post

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  3. To see the world with child-like wonder and enthusiasm is truly refreshing. I so enjoyed your post, Vickie. Thank you!


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  4. Vickie, your post had me smiling right from the beginning. My childhood came with a trict upbringing so I escaped through my imagination. I love the word pictures you paint here. I giggled inside when you mentioned puddles. I still like walking through puddles. Thank you for this fun message. Maybe one day we can jump in puddles and see a rainbow together.

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  5. Thanks for this refreshing post, Vickie. It blew some cobwebs out of my head and put a smile on my face too. I liked playing in puddles too, which makes me think of springtime when the bottoms of the puddle are icy. We’d wade in as deep as we could go, hoping we wouldn’t take that extra step where the pressure of the water made our boots cave in, and oh, no, we’d get an icy bootful.
    But we never seemed to learn. . .

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  6. Thanks for recapturing for us the joy and wonder of childhood. It's always refreshing to remember those moments.

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  7. Thank you for reminding me of my childhood, too, Vickie! Like you, we moved several times and although I was fearful, I bounced back and adjusted. Somehow we are more resilient as children, and we lose that elasticity as we age. Ha ha. I loved your piece. It's such a good reminder to see the world through the eyes of a child. How refreshing and joyful!
    Pam Mytroen

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