The ramp out of the grocery store was wide and slick. For most, it was an area where one should exercise care. For the two kids in front of me it was anything but! They were running, sliding, and playing an imaginary game with Dad as the foil. It was exhilarating to watch!
Dad was twisting and turning, fueling the game in a way that only the family understood. Mom on the other hand, was trying to bring a bit of safety into the occasion. Her men, old and young, were beyond her reach! As they made their moves, smiling and laughing with each other oblivious to the world around them, Mom was grasping to catch the young girl desperately trying to join in. It was an open invitation that she could not resist.
I love watching kids carelessly enjoying life. It is a time that never lasts long enough. Many miss it totally, becoming adults before their time. As fleeting as it is, one should not lament when it is gone. Becoming an adult is a new adventure with its own joys.
It is interest to contrast the difference in freedom between the kids on the ramp with what we have as adults. While kids have a unique freedom of expressions, we have the freedom to make a difference. The difference brings a responsibility that is refreshing. Kids hurt others without regard and at times responsibility. Adults often do the same however there is a difference. One writer captured it well; “If you choose to speak, you’re also responsible for how and when you speak.” (1 Corinthians 14.31)
I missed parts of my childhood. In some ways, I think I grew up too fast. As an adult, I have an opportunity to be intentional with my life. My freedom comes with strings. Some see them as a burden. I look at it differently. Each string is a reminder that you and I have ability to make a positive difference. We can touch the lives around us. We can make a difference to our self.
