I’m so glad you stopped by today! Hope you brought your coffee or tea and can stay and sit for awhile for the first week of Coffee Cravings.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the flash of playful jumping across the field behind my house. I paused and watched more intently out the deck windows. Splashing in the puddles and playing a game of tag were two baby deer. I recognized in that picture instant freedom – complete abandonment of the restrictions we place on ourselves daily.
I glimpsed a memory of my childhood – running, jumping, playing football in the backyard with my brothers. I recalled moments of freedom in the form of play and I began to ask these questions:
Where had my sense of play run off to and when did I lose that feeling of letting go of all for the feeling of absolute delight? Is it possible to discover that kind of freedom as an adult?
I started digging deep into who I am and looked for moments when I have allowed play into my adult life.
My first reaction was… I don’t play! Life is serious! I have responsibilities! I’m a mom and a teacher – for goodness sakes – I don’t have time for play! I did not stop there but knew that I needed to look deeper into what play can look like as an adult.
Further reflection time, gave God the opportunity to pull me out of my self-pity state of mind to reveal a snapshot of when I have indulged in the freedom of play.
God showed me that running and jumping might not be my form of play but many moments provide freedom and delight.
Play looks and feels like the following for me!
1. Following and acting on your passions
I discovered this past December that God renewed my love of music and provided an opportunity to use this gift by being a part of my church’s Christmas production. I had auditioned in the summer and knew that I was chosen to be a member of the choir but had no idea of the blessing that I would receive. Fifteen performances, an amazing group of dedicated volunteers, a church wide ministry to bless the people of Cincinnati and I realized that God had given me pure delight in the process of reaching out to others each night.
2. Being active in the midst of God’s beauty
Long walks in the park, soaking in the beauty, with worship music humming through my earbuds provides a stillness that allows me to experience joy. Notice I said “walking” because running is only a memory!
3. Enjoying laughter because you can
Spending time with friends and family and forgetting about the mundane for a time, accompanied by deep belly laughs, feeds my soul and my heart.
God provides so many opportunities for us to pursue our passions and to abandon our routines to explore joy. Will you play today? What does play look like for you?
“Old men and old women will come back to Jerusalem, sit on benches on the streets and spin tales, move around safely with their canes—a good city to grow old in. And boys and girls will fill the public parks, laughing and playing—a good city to grow up in.” Zechariah 8:4-5
Let’s be happy right where we are and find time to play today!
Linking up this year with Ann Voskamp’s 2014 Joy Dare. Find the link up at A Holy Experience. Counting blessings daily will bless you immeasurably! JoyDare #246-284
- Visiting my son & catching up on life,blessed by two book study calls today,sunshine abounding before the cold sets in
- A day to get my taxes finished, snow squall on a spring day, snuggling in a warm bed on a cold morning
- An afternoon dwntwn enjoying sun,food,coffee &friendship, an evening worshipping&praying at church,my son home to visit
- That moment when taxes are completed, lunchtime fun with my dad and son #memories and a visit from my favorite dog
- Fun visit to see my son’s apartment, time for some much needed shopping, sunshine to brighten the day and our moods
- Rainy, cold spring day to remind us who is in control,quiet time with God to listen & learn,night falls and peace reigns
- Brilliant sunshine to make me believe spring is really here,God’s word spoken by my son and senior pastor today,Sun.joy
- Mon blessings-the gift of being a mom, the gift of being a daughter, the unconditional love of Our Father
- Windows open letting in the spring breeze, support of friends, students learning and focused
- Rainy day to freshen and brighten the landscape, determined teaching for my 3rd graders, another day to do it all again
- Writing time to soothe the soul,spring temperatures to soothe our bodies, and #beansandriceweek beginning @crdschurch
- A long week is now in the books, student love to make it through the day, knowing I am loved by God no matter what
- Saturday sunshine & time for errands, blessed to spend time with a little beauty-Scarlett, church with a friend
Blessed to be linking with:
Oh I LOVE your coffee cravings. I don’t play often enough. I need to play, and enjoy life. Hugs!
Mary,
Nice to meet you. I’m hopping over belatedly from Ann’s link up. Wow, you saw two deer jumping in puddles? What fun!
Thank you for the reminder to play and be playful as adults too. You’re right that it brings renewal, joy and rest too. I play with words, with laughter too, and with my family. Being outdoors around my garden plants brings playful joy too.
Nice to meet you,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Your visit blessed me! I love how God lets us play in areas that are also our passions. Thank you for sharing your ideas for play. Blessings for the upcoming week!
I don’t often think about “playing” anymore, Mary, but I think your list of the ways you “play” is very much like mine. I especially love #2 and can’t wait for the warmer spring temperatures to get here, so I can take that long walk in the woods with my Lord. 🙂 Now, I must run and grab that “cup of coffee” you mentioned. Funny how that works! Craving it and Him right along with you, my friend!
Love your suggestions for play! We all need to play more and would be happier and more peaceful if we did, I believe. Like you, I often feel that life is too serious or that I’m too busy to play. I should probably re-think that! Thanks for linking up, dear one!
I will probably need to read this post often when life starts to back me into a corner. We honor God best when we let the ordinary go and spend time just being because His presence is more prevalent. Blessings my friend!
I love this… a great list of gifts – and a great reminder to play! Stopping by from Ann’s place out at the Farm today! #1000gifts
Thanks for stopping by Karrilee! Blessed to have you hanging out with me for a time! Have a good week!