All About You FRIDAY – Recapture the Wonder

Child reading a green book, smiling joyfully.

“This book has two REALLY funny pages in it! Can I read it to you?”

I looked down to see a bright-eyed young girl of about five or six years old. I looked around. She was definitely talking to me.

I was standing on the sidelines of an indoor soccer game. The players were women in their 40’s and because I am their biggest fan, I am often accompanied on the sidelines by their children.

“Sure!” I said.

She eagerly sat next to me and started on page 1. “We are in a Book!” she said. That was the title of the publication starring two characters, Elephant and Piggie. As the story goes, Elephant is the cautious sidekick to the effervescent PIggie. The characters realize they are being watched by the reader.

“Here comes the funny part,” she said. She slowly turned the page as if to reveal a big surprise.

“BANANA!” She was laughing so hard she could barely sit up. “They made me say banana!” She turned the page and then paused. “That was so funny, I think I want to read that again,” her voice squeaking with joy.

“I think you should keep reading,” I said, “They just might make you say it again.”

And they did. And she laughed. Like it was the funniest thing ever. And for a brief moment I was reminded of the wonder of a child.

At one point, the characters lamented that the book would eventually end on page 57. But they come to the conclusion that it doesn’t really have to end if they can get the reader to read it again.

“I want to read it to you again!,” she said. “Can I?” At that point, her mom said it was time to go. She clutched the book to her chest like a treasure and walked off with a smile on her face.

“The tragedy with growing up is not that we lose childishness in its simplicity, but that we lose childlikeness in its sublimity.”
― Ravi Zacharias, Recapture the Wonder

It was a simple book. No great plot. But I ended up telling that story several times the next day at work. I never got the little girl’s name, but one day, maybe when she’s a bit older I’ll run into her again on the sidelines and I’m going to tell her how she made my day by reading me a book.

I’ll leave you with this poem:

“It’s odd God.
Time’s shoeless feet sneaked up on me
and caught me by surprise. The days of youth I knew so well
are gone with the blink of an eye.
Innocent play and laughter,
tire swings and fun,
those days were too soon ended
when I thought they’d only begun.

Backyard friends were many
Worries and fears were few.
Hopes and dreams were not yet dashed.
But life as it was then is through.
No longer tree swings,
now they’re blowouts
that complicate schedules and work
as I recklessly race down the freeway
in search of a paycheck and perks.

How I long for the years of my childhood,
when life was uncluttered and free.
Perhaps there’s a way to reprogram my goals
and capture the me that was me.”
― Ravi Zacharias, Recapture the Wonder

Feeling in a funk? Ask a child to read you a book and recapture the wonder.

It’s been a long week. Don’t forget to celebrate.

Until next time…