Back in the Day

Oh to be a kid again.  No worries, no stresses, just carefree, happy go lucky days. 

So why is it that as a kid, I couldn't wait to grow up?  I couldn't wait for the day that no one would tell me "No" about eating cake for breakfast...or lunch, and how bout dinner!  I could do what I want when I want, anytime I wanted.  Adults had fun and partied when the kids when to bed...at least that is how it seemed when Mom and Dad broke out the goodies after hours.  You know that stash that they thought was so well hidden, but we all knew right where it was...Yup that is the stash I am talking about, and it came out when the kids were out of sight.  Or so they thought!  :) 

Why would we have ever wanted to outgrow all this:

Playing outside all day, smelling like outside (you know that dirty little kid outdoor smell) dirt under your nails, no body cared how messy and unkempt you looked.  Putting things up our noses, just for the sake of seeing if it would fit, then trying to blow said object across the room from the nose.  Riding our bikes, showing off our wounds from wrecking the bike, or the latest bruise from a slug that was delivered from a loving sibling. 

"Helping" Mom out by cleaning the kitchen floors with an entire bottle of dish soap, bringing in the hose and sliding around the soapy mess like it was a roller derby.  Having Mom come home and wonder, why the floor is so sticky and gummy, and really not knowing that all our fun for the day had messed up the floors for months to come.  Playing in the dark, a fun game of german spotlight, that yes involved a "spotlight" (flashlight)  and breaking ALL of mom's favorite treasures in the process.  How bout the look on our faces when we were found out that we broke all those things...and the question that followed was always a hard one to answer.  It was then we would pull out the famous stupid look, fully aware that we were all busted, but never willing to admit who done it, and giggling about it later. 

Waiting around the corner to scare each other, shocking ourselves on the short in the oven when touching the sink, and having slap fights, throwing barbie doll heads to freak our brothers out when we said there was a scary spider in our bathroom and laughing that you knew a punch in the arm was coming later. The punch in the arm was always worth the laugh.  :)  

Come on, you know that sounds fun! 

Coming home from school to homemade deliciousness that were devoured in seconds, and staying outside with friends till all hours of the night during those hot summer days. 

We were carefree and full of life...and yet we all wanted to grow up and be our own boss. 

Bleh!  Where's all the fun and games?  They have disappeared, and life got HARD.  I don't think it's ever the picture we dream. 

But, some things are bigger than the dream.  I see the dream come to reality when I look at my kids and see them doing the same things I just talked about.  I see the dream when my husband tell me how much he treasures me, and how I wouldn't want to face a day without him.  I see it as I watch my tiny little girl growing and looking into my eyes.  And, I see it as I dream of eternity, and the beautiful picture of what that will be like as all the cares and heartaches of this world disappear.  It's in the laughter, and the quiet moments.  Holding onto hope with everything within us.  In not letting our circumstances and hardships make us hard, and calloused. In finding love and forgiveness when the unthinkable happens in our life. 

It's these things in life that mold and make us into either a beautiful masterpiece, or an unthinkable mess.  No matter how tough times get, or how bleak things look, this Beautiful Mess of life holds glorious answered dreams to be thankful for. 

Back in the day, we didn't know how hard it would be. There are so many days I long to be that naive again. 
We can't change our circumstances.  We can't change the way the economy is messing things up.  We can't change a lot of what life delivers.  What we can change however, is the way we approach it all, even under the most dire of situations.  We can be the difference that can change a life for the better instead of worrying so much about our own dilemma, and stop for a second and realize we are not alone.  There is always someone to be found that is having a bigger struggle than we are, and they need our love.  If we choose love, and kindness, and patience even in the midst of this mess of life, we will find we are changed, and able to face whatever comes our way with renewed strength. 

I pray that My Life, will be like a love song that illuminates to those around me, and shines God's love.  Life may not be easy...But we can certainly make it harder, if we so choose. 

Continuing to choose Joy.