Mirth

by Kelly Knowlden

I am old.  I live in a world that is serious.  I have all the pressures of dealing with problems in students, families and society.  I am overwhelmed with the sins of this world as expressed in the war in Afghanistan, the concerns of America’s cultural adultery and my own sins as well.  I have many things that need to be done and feel the weight of responsibility.  You are no different in being confronted with the same things.  So let me share with you this perspective that a young man brought to me yesterday.  I will call him “Fred.”

He was talking to a child of three.  Fred was pretending that his arm was stuck straight up in the air.  The little fellow would try to pull it down but as soon as he let go, Fred’s arm would flip up in the air again.  This was grand fun for the little guy.  But then, a very interesting thing happened.  The little fellow wanted to be the one with the stuck arm.  Fred would pull down the child’s arm and when he let go, the boy would flip up his arm again.  Fred proceeded to use every possible “pretend” thing imaginable to keep this little lad’s arm down: tape, nails, glue, and string—all to the delight of the boy and the lack of success in the project.

What did I learn from that observation?  Children imitate those who are joyfully delighting in life.  They want to have fun, and are caught up with its pursuits.  “Stop bouncing!” is paramount to telling children that God is a cosmic killjoy.  While children need to be guided and given parameters, parents who are caught up with the serious pursuits of life and cannot enjoy the moments of fun, need to re-examine Psalm 100:  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Serve the Lord with mirth. [This is an Old-English translation of the Hebrew that implies lightness of heart and festive merry making!] Come before Him with joyful songs.

Let’s not forget to delight in the simple pleasures afforded to us each day by a God who controls all the serious issues of life.