Embracing Your Inner Child
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Consider the last time you allowed yourself to truly be in touch with your inner child.
"We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."
- George Bernard Shaw
"Be a child again. Flirt. Giggle. Dip your cookies in your milk. Take a nap. Say you're sorry if you hurt someone. Chase a butterfly. Be a child again."
- Max Lucado
Mark 10:13-17
People were bringing children to Jesus so that he would bless them. But the disciples scolded them. When Jesus saw this, he grew angry and said to them, “Allow the children to come to me. Don’t forbid them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people like these children. I assure you that whoever doesn’t welcome God’s kingdom like a child will never enter it.” Then he hugged the children and blessed them.
Food for Thought
I settled myself on my mat as the yoga class began at our local arts center. Laura, the cute, young instructor, began leading us in some easy stretches and encouraged us to center our spirits. “If you are having trouble getting your mind to quiet down,” she said, “put your inner child over to the side and give her something to do.”
This idea immediately grabbed my imagination. I frequently struggle to get my ‘monkey brain’ to focus. Thoughts tend to randomly pop into my head, often causing me to get mixed up mid-sentence. It doesn’t take much to distract me — just ask my family.
So, as I stretched my tight muscles on that cold morning, I could feel my six-year-old self pulling at me for attention.
“Look over here!” she whispered in my ear as she attempted a pirouette. I could see that she needed something to keep her occupied. I imagined giving her a coloring book and a new box of Crayola crayons and sent her over to the side of the room. She scrunched down on the floor and was soon happily coloring away. I let out a sigh, knowing she was being taken care of, and turned my mind back to the yoga class.
But I don’t want to get into the habit of always pushing my inner child to the side. I need her presence in my life.
I love the familiar story in Mark 10 when Jesus tells the disciples to let the children come to him. I imagine Jesus finally sitting down to catch his breath — tired from his day of ministry, frustrated from the debates around scripture he was carrying on just verses before — then here come the children, barreling in to jump into his lap. His mood instantly lightens. Those ever-vigilant disciples try to run the children off, but Jesus shows a rare temper and tells them to leave the children alone. “I assure you that whoever doesn’t welcome God’s kingdom like a child will never enter it,” he says. Then he hugs the children and blesses them.
Does your inner child need a hug occasionally? I know mine does. When she gets overly tired, her emotions get touchy. She sometimes feels scared, sad, and mad. She might even throw a little fit when she feels ignored. I’m learning to listen to how she feels, to take a break, and give her the attention she craves when she is out of sorts.
Other times, she wants to come out and play. Instead of constantly telling her to quit interrupting my work, I need to sometimes get up and dance with her to some good rock-n-roll oldies. On sunny days I need to close up my computer and take her for a walk. She helps me appreciate the beauty of a clear blue sky and the songs of the birds as they call to each other.
Embracing our inner child opens us to seeing the world in new, wonderful ways. Jesus said that we need to welcome God’s kingdom like a child in order to enter it.
To me, entering God’s kingdom like a child means knowing that Jesus’ arms are always open to me when I am feeling cranky and need reassurance that I am loved. It means that we need to come to him with awe and wonder at all he is offering us. Like a child on Christmas morning, we need to say “Thank you!”, then run off to enjoy our gifts and share them with our friends.
What does your inner child need? As we transition from summer vacations back into our regular rhythms of the year, maybe you can spend some intentional time with your inner child. Practice embracing your inner child as you laugh over a silly movie, work a puzzle with a friend, play a board or card game, color with crayons, or dance to some rock-n-roll.
If your Summer schedule is already in full swing and you are in need of a fun way to stay connected with friends and loved ones through meaningful conversation, check out The Traveling Table! This FREE downloadable eBook series, can go with you wherever you go this Summer, and there is something for everyone!
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
Loving God,
Help us in our busy adult lives to tap into the joy and innocence of our inner child in order to find connection with you. Thank you for blessing us with your love and grace.
Amen.
A little Table Talk for your table...
Write down or share your thoughts about what it means to “welcome God’s kingdom like a child”.
Do you ever need to put your inner child over to the side so that you can concentrate? Share how you engage your inner child in those moments.
Talk together about how your inner child has helped you discover the world in new ways.
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Sometimes we need to practice letting our children be children! Spend some time drawing or painting together. Let your inner child guide you and let your child enjoy the activity in a way that brings them joy.
Take some time to play with your kiddos — any game or activity of their choice.
Next time your child asks you to explain “why” something is, respond with, “What do you think?” and listen to their answers. Make an effort to understand their priceless, surprising, or poignant “kid” logic so that you may see the world through their eyes.
Meet our Welcoming Voice!
Millicent Flake holds degrees from Wake Forest University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the University of West Georgia. For twenty years she helped young people discover a love of books through her work as a school media specialist. Since her retirement in 2019, she has enjoyed having time to write, teach Bible studies, and play in her garden. Her book, Moving Beyond: Journeying Through Life's Changes, is available for purchase. You can also visit her blog, "Under the Magnolia Tree", at www.maflake.com.
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