...So, as I get older, I think more and more about being younger. I enjoy watching children. A child lives simply. They're themselves. I believe we are a people of many masks. We hide behind these masks. They make us stoic and fake. Children are transparent. The world hasn't "gotten to them" yet while the rest of us have been tainted.

A child has what I want. They are owners of PLAYFULNESS, HONESTY, TRUST, SIMPLICITY, OBEDIENCE, and HUMILITY. They have it all figured out and they don't even realize it. They're real. They live with such freedom!

How fun it is to watch a child PLAY! They're silly, absolutely goofy! They say things that don't even make sense and the littlest things make them giggle. I feel that life can be way too serious at times. I feel like we wear our "I'm too cool" mask a lot. I enjoy being playful especially after working a few months in a corporate office. Success, Networking, $. Whew! I'm thankful these things don't burden me. They don't give meaning to my life. This life is precious, too precious to be caught up in work. Create your own play time. And laugh a lot. Laughing is such a gift! I remember laughing so much as my dad would wrestle with my brother and cousins and me when we were children. And I especially love the small things between people. There are things that my friends and I or brother and I say that only we'd understand and laugh at. Sometimes they're just random. Playing is a part of a child's daily schedule! There's a time to play and to be silly.

Have you ever experienced the HONESTY of a child?! They say it like it is. Their words and actions seem to spontaneously happen. They don't try to impress. Huh. They're not afraid to tell you you've messed up or say exactly what they think. I feel we're too wrapped up in trying to win the approval of others by what we say, how much we know, $, appearance, wanting people to know that WE have it all together. Well, guess what? We mess up. Yes, we WILL fail. We're human, we're going to do that. And something else-Everybody does it.

Ok, this really isn't the greatest example, but it's all about a child. One evening, not too long ago, I was spending some time with a well respected family in the church I attend. I spend quite a bit of time with their oldest daughter and I was finally going to meet the rest of the family. So I was talking with Jordan-a spunky, short, brown haired, 7 yr. old. We hit it off right away by discussing Portland Trailblazer Brian Grant and how great he was! Jordan had this basketball that I wanted, signed by Brian. But she rejected the idea of giving it to me and instead told me that she was sure McDonalds would give me one too. We then proceeded to play a game and Jordan was my partner. Being that my partner was having a li'll bit o' trouble following the game, we cheated. Ohhhh did she giggle! So then her very cool dad comes home and I'm going to meet him. He knows there's this new girl who works with the high school group at church, but that 's about it. As I stand to greet him, Jordan announces "Dad! This is Nancy she loves Brian Grant and taught me how to cheat!" Woohoo, big points for me! As the rest of the clan couldn't contain they're laughter, I felt my face turn a slightly different color as I shook his hand. His response? "It's the dreads isn't it?" (If you don't get this, don't worry). All in all this is to say I was embarrassed. And yet Jordan was only being real.