Over Christmas Break, I was given the opportunity to babysit for a fellow teacher. In my opinion, it was going to be the most exciting part of my break (I was right). I was not feeling very Christmassy (or in the Christmas spirit, as normal people put it) this year and other than family coming to visit, my break was going to be quite dull.
I was to watch her three kids and her sister's two boys. I have had lots of experience babysitting, so I felt I was adequately prepared for the job of 5 young ones all under the age of 11. Sure enough, they were a great batch of kids and things went great. We had lots of fun all playing and making sugar cookies. (Sorry Sophia, I totally put your kiddos on a sugar rush!)
The best part of the night was right before bedtime. They wanted to watch a movie and I let them pick one from my Netflix account. They picked The Polar Express. I internally held in a sigh. I am not too big on Christmas movies. The only one I really like is White Christmas. But, I agreed and we started the movie. We all cuddled up on the couches and I made them popcorn. As the movie began, I saw how excited and into the movie they all were.
It was then that God showed me that I had not been feeding my inner child and that I was suffering from a lack of pure joy that children seem to so easily attain. I have been so caught up in my new job that I have not taken time to do things that brought out my inner child. Things like drawing, watching kid movies, or even playing. I have been too caught up in my "adult self" that I was slowly starting to show signs of being "one of those" twenty-somethings that I despised. Those who did not know how to have fun and enjoy life outside of work.
At one point in my high school life, a friend of my mother's who was a counselor told me that it was very important, no matter how old the person, for that person to feed their inner child. It helped them grow and develop as a person.
Our inner child is inside of us to keep our hearts young and to help chase out the bitterness that this cruel and corrupted world daily injects us with.
Even Jesus has something to say on this matter of the mind of a child. It says in Matthew 18:2-6, "He called the little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I Tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven..." Basically, Jesus is saying that we must have childlike faith in Him. If we do not feed our inner child, how can that inner child inspire childlike faith in Jesus?
About twenty minutes into the movie, after I had this inspired revelation, I was just as enthralled as the kids were. I was gasping at the intense parts and cheering at the ending with them. All of this happened because I allowed myself to indulge my inner child. After the movie, I put the youngest three to bed, and then allowed the elder two to stay up an extra hour. I read out loud to the eldest two for an hour straight (much to the pain of my throat and voice). Then I carried the younger of the two up to bed, for she had fallen asleep in my arms as I read. All in all, a perfect ending to a wonderful day.
This revelation that God gave to me, enabled me to be more proactive in feeding my inner child. I have seen a change in my teaching style, my attitude at home and the attitude towards my daily devotions all because I followed God's direction.
I encourage all of you, no matter how old, take some time to indulge and feed your inner child today. Watch a kids' movie, pull out a coloring book, build with Lego's, anything that brings some good, childlike joy to your heart. Thank God for giving us the ability to retain our inner child and nurture it. You will be surprised with the changes He will work in you through it.
At one point in my high school life, a friend of my mother's who was a counselor told me that it was very important, no matter how old the person, for that person to feed their inner child. It helped them grow and develop as a person.
Our inner child is inside of us to keep our hearts young and to help chase out the bitterness that this cruel and corrupted world daily injects us with.
Even Jesus has something to say on this matter of the mind of a child. It says in Matthew 18:2-6, "He called the little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I Tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven..." Basically, Jesus is saying that we must have childlike faith in Him. If we do not feed our inner child, how can that inner child inspire childlike faith in Jesus?
About twenty minutes into the movie, after I had this inspired revelation, I was just as enthralled as the kids were. I was gasping at the intense parts and cheering at the ending with them. All of this happened because I allowed myself to indulge my inner child. After the movie, I put the youngest three to bed, and then allowed the elder two to stay up an extra hour. I read out loud to the eldest two for an hour straight (much to the pain of my throat and voice). Then I carried the younger of the two up to bed, for she had fallen asleep in my arms as I read. All in all, a perfect ending to a wonderful day.
This revelation that God gave to me, enabled me to be more proactive in feeding my inner child. I have seen a change in my teaching style, my attitude at home and the attitude towards my daily devotions all because I followed God's direction.
I encourage all of you, no matter how old, take some time to indulge and feed your inner child today. Watch a kids' movie, pull out a coloring book, build with Lego's, anything that brings some good, childlike joy to your heart. Thank God for giving us the ability to retain our inner child and nurture it. You will be surprised with the changes He will work in you through it.
