A Lesson from a Child and Cotton Candy

There's a new pebble on our beach. Well, she's actually been here for a couple of years, but her shape and colors are starting to show. Our newest granddaughter is fearless and at times I laugh at her antics like going all in, headfirst into a ball of cotton candy, and other times I cringe in fear as she leaps from a chair--I have a fear, the fear that she does not have. 

I think she may think that she has wings and can actually fly when she fearlessly jumps off of things. She dives into everything headfirst--whether it be trying to keep up with older kids with whatever they are doing or even eating cotton candy--no concern of getting sticky. She just lives life! She knows what she wants, and she just goes for it.

Was I ever that way? I'm not sure, but I know if I was, that life experiences taught me to be cautious and wary. It's a good thing and helps avoid stitches and sticky things. I, for one, don't like to get dirty or sticky and that may be our difference. But if I were more like Zion, how much more could I accomplish? We let fear sometimes take control. We think about just how sticky we will get putting our whole face full in the cotton candy, and we weigh the pros and cons. Yes, wisdom comes with age on the neatest way to enjoy the sugary treat but imagine being able to live life with pure abandonment. 

I think God wants us to have the "go for it!" attitude in our walk. So often we let what others may think control our actions. I don't want to be unliked for my words or actions. I don't want people to judge me. I can easily conform to the crowd. Yet, God is the final judge. Whom should, I fear? Why am I afraid to stand up for my beliefs? Why can't I share with everyone the importance of God in my life? Why? Because life is sticky, and I have learned going headfirst into cotton candy has its consequences. Evangelizing can lead to criticism or even being made to look like a fool. 

I think what I have learned is a balance. Unless you eat cotton candy with a spoon or maybe chopsticks (?) it's going to be sticky. There is no neat way to eat it. I have learned tearing off a piece with my fingers, gets only my fingers sticky and I can lick them clean. (I tried to show my granddaughter this and she thought I was stealing a piece from her, and she got very upset.) 

We can try and show others Jesus's love little by little, piece by piece by how we live our lives and why we believe what we believe. But there are times when situations may be appropriate to dive in headfirst, in times of trouble and danger. I love the scene in "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade" when he realizes the only way across the deep chasm is to step out in faith and the bridge magically appears when he takes the first step. We may need to put aside our fears. Just share the truth about Jesus with a dying friend or a friend being swallowed by life's sorrows. We are in this sticky life together. God give us wisdom when to dive in headfirst and take that step out in faith and when to share little by little. Thank you, Jesus, for lessons from children.