This has been a week of refreshment for me; a week of play.  

A week of refreshment and play —

Picking up fallen leaves in the park,

discovering acorns on the sidewalk,

drawing pictures on the driveway,

skipping over the cracks in the sidewalk,

playing house on the jungle gym.

Swinging higher than I thought I could, 

walking further together than we had even gone before.

Hearing someone pray for the morning songs of the birds,

receiving spontaneous hugs and kisses,

pretending, imagining,

coloring, together.

Reading and learning about “speech bubbles"

riding a big yellow school bus,

hearing that school is “awesome!”

Taking pictures, 

watching the same short video,

over and over and over again.

Sharing laughs and snuggles.

Playing Uno and Chutes and Ladders,

seeing disappointment when losing,

seeing unbridled joy when winning!

Holding the hand of a child and

being childlike again!

Loving and being loved beyond words 

that is refreshment and play!

So many avenues of refreshment — where do you find yours? 

Exploring the outdoors?  Caring for the earth? Cooking for loved ones? Feeling the breeze on your face as you ride or walk along? Crafting with yarn, or colors, or beads, or textures.  Capturing pictures of moments that touch your heart? Imagining and dreaming? On the mountaintop? On a sandy shore? Reading or singing?  In the bustle of the crowds, in the silence of solitude? Traveling the world? Finding your comfortable chair at home?

God reminds us to refresh, to come away, to play.  What gifts we find as we refresh. Often we hear God’s voice more clearly as we listen to the world around us — refreshed and at play.  

Thank-you, God for moments and days of refreshment and play!