Bored? Climb a Mimosa Tree!

“I’m so bored!” Famous words from kids during their summer vacation even with all the technology gadgets they own – they still get weary from the same-o, same-o!

Did you complain of boredom when you were a kid? I did. My Mom’s reply to that – “Go outside and play. Make some soup.” WHAT? Oh, I knew what she meant. She wanted me to go outside because that's where we had lots of "play-grounds and play-gyms" that resolved boredom by offering great opportunities for imagination and adventures. My playground and gym was a mimosa tree in our front yard that I climbed and pretended I was in a fortress from all my enemies and when I got hungry, I made a delicious soup to share with my friends.

Those memories came back to me when we were at Beaver’s Bend this spring and mimosa trees were everywhere. I pointed them out to my grands! I still think a mimosa is the prettiest tree in the world. Its leaves are like ferns. Its flowers are pink puffballs. And it blooms in summer when few other trees do and when the puffballs fade, the tree grows hundreds of 6-inch long, bean-like, brown seedpods which hang from every branch.

As I said, not only did we climb my tree and ward off evil pirates from my “tree ship”, but we would take the bean pods from it and break it up into a big pot. We’d add the leaves, seeds, pods, and flowers from it, and add a little dirt for seasoning. Then, we pretended to cook it and enjoy our scrumptious pot of mimosa stew! BTW – I just found out in writing this post for today, that we could have actually boiled up the flowers for a real mimosa healthy drink. Both its flowers and bark were traditionally used as a sedative, specifically for calming and lifting one's spirit. HOLY MOLY! I could use a jug of it right now in dealing with my Animal Kingdom here in Austin!

We also pretended to be school teachers and mothers and sometimes we did some things that required bravery – like riding our bicycles with no hands or jumping off the high diving board. Sometimes our imaginations went too far. I’ll never forget the trouble my friend and I got into when we wanted a swimming pool and dug an 8 ft X 8 ft X 1 ft hole in my backyard. We were caught when we were adding water to “our luxurious mud pit”.

I’ll bet you can remember some wild and crazy adventures when you were a kid. Those adventures sure did break up the boredom. I talked about adventures in my post yesterday and it seems I’m on a soapbox for living life to the fullest, with no room for boredom. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you change and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” What exactly does that mean….especially when you’re as “mature” as I am? Of course, God wants us to come before Him as children, because children are innocent, and trust with a pure heart. To go before God as a child is to go with wide-eyed wonder that comes from total faith. Our Heavenly Father – our great Creator was an Adventurer par excellence (just think about all the adventures He directed His kids into – water-walking, water-parting, boat rides on stormy seas, giants tumbling with a mere stone from a shepherd boy’s sling, falling into pits and landing up in a palace). It sure seems like, as His children, it should be just “natural” to be adventure seekers because of the childlike faith we possess.

Here’s the thing -- God didn’t create us for boredom! We are always being “pushed” to be more, do more, experience more, celebrates more, live life larger than ever before. Here’s another GREAT verse. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing and they will do even GREATER things than these because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

So, why sit in the recliner of boredom, complacency, and idleness when there's so much to see, so much greater things to do and so much to experience? This world is the greatest "playground". Why should we be "dead men and women walking", instead of people who are alive, imaginative, creative AND adventurous? I’m already planning my next adventure. How about you?

The Wide Eyed Wonder of a Child

Over the river and through the woods to Austin from Texas.....now it's play time with my Southern Texas Fam!!! Oh the miles I'm putting on my car....but every mile brings with it so much gratitude and thanksgiving. I delight in these precious times of family focus -- especially here during the Christmas season.

While my grandbabies are no longer babies, this time of the year -- more than ever -- we're reminded of the joys of being a child. Week before last, I was staying with my mother-in-law for a few days to finish up some scheduled activities, and one of the pleasures of spending time with her is the weekly visit of my niece (Mom's great-grandchild, Anna). Anna is three now and, without a doubt, her little life has added to the life of Mom in ways beyond we could count. Mom is radiant when Anna visits her and she will sit and watch every move Anna makes during the time she's there. She is "entertainment" personified!! And she's added to my life, because it brings me so much joy to hang out with her, too. My sis, Karen, bought a big doll house for Mom's house and the room that it's in is designated by Anna, as "Anna's Room". While with Mom, I purchased some doll-sized, Christmas decorations and dolls for the little house. I had it all decorated when Anna came over, and when she went into the room to the doll house, she put her hand over her mouth and was in awe. She looked at me and said, "What did you get these for me?" I said, "Because I love you so much!" She replied "I love you so much too!" She played with those dolls and decorations all day long.

Anna runs blissfully about, filled with happy freedom from care and concern. What joy it is to watch her and hear her talk. Matthew 18:4 says "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of God". When Jesus urged us to become like little children, He was saying He wants us to regain some of our childhood innocence and awe. When we were young, it was easy to believe in a good God Who watches over us and Who has a band of angels to protect us. I love how my two youngest grandsons make sure we pray for the angels to encamp around them while they sleep. They MUST have that prayer, and we're delighted that when we pray, they are comforted and then sweet sleep.

But as we grow older, some of those comforting images fade and we gradually lose that sense of security. Of course, as adults, we face many variables in life -- pressures, responsibilities, transitions, ups and downs in "life", and then we fail to remember the freedom and abandonment of worries as we did as children.

But let's change that. Let's revive the innocence and joy we knew as children -- not dependent on just our own efforts. The fact is -- maturity isn't being independent from God -- it's a deeper dependence more than EVER! We're DEPENDENT on His mercy and grace. God IS our DADDY, and from our first breath -- to our last breath -- He has a watchful eye over us and His plans for us include His very best. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Let's continue on into this beautiful season of Christmas with wide-eyed awe and wonder -- like we had as children. And, when "stuff" is chasing us down and we're about to be CAUGHT UP in the frenzy and stress that often comes with this season, let's look up and say, "I love you too so much!" God loves it when we become like little children reaching out to Him. I promise you, He'll reassure you with his love, support AND open arms!