Matthew 11:25
At that time, Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."
When you were a child, did you enjoy playing with Play-Doh? I have such fond memories of forming shapes and creatures with this malleable, resilient medium. As my granddaughter, Virginia Rose is almost three, I decide it's high time to introduce her to the wonder and creativity Play-Doh offers.
"Gammie bought you some Play-Doh," I tell Virginia on her most recent visit. "You can make all kinds of things with it. Would you like to try it?"
Her eyes grow big with expectation and curiosity. "Yep, Gammie," she replies, always ready for something new.
As I peel the cardboard holder back from the separate containers, Virginia names the first color revealed. "Yewoah," she says. I duly open up the yellow and dump to soft lump on the parchment paper I've spread on the table. I pinch off a piece and hand it to her, then pinch off one for me. I show her how to roll it around between her palms to make a ball. She is fascinated!
We run through all five colors, making little balls with each one. Next, I show Virginia how to flatten a piece of Play-Doh and use the little animal imprints on the lids to make an impression. Of course, since she loves cats, she wants to use the kitty mold first. Her initial attempt is anything but stellar.
"You see, Virginia, you have to push down hard, like this," I tell her, and show her how by placing her hand on top of mine, letting her feel the force I'm using.
"Baby try," she says.
And, this time, success!
Virginia is so enthralled with making impressions and experimenting with different colors and shapes, I decide this is an excellent time to grab my camera while she doesn't need Gammie to entertain her. Here are some of her Play-Doh moments.
And, as I click away, capturing her rapt expressions, I am overwhelmed by how completely Virginia lives in the moment. There is no yesterday. There is no tomorrow.
There is only today. The here and now.
And, in her simply being a child, Virginia reveals to me the secret of living life to the fullest - being present, aware, awake, and alive in every precious moment God gives to us.
~
What have you learned through watching a child at play?
Will you pray with me?
We praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing Your truths through Your precious little ones. Like them, let us savor and give thanks in each moment You give us, not worrying about tomorrow or wallowing in our past, but trusting that You are in control and will lead us in Your light. Amen.
WOW! the VRS Touches my Soul & I feel like Iwas Playin' Play-dough too. Anointed Word.Blessings Martha.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tomtom! So glad you visited today and enjoyed the post and the memories it invoked.
DeleteBlessings to you!
Good Morning, Martha:
ReplyDeleteJust saw your comment at Wisdom and Life bout my column. This happens all the time with many of my fellow bloggers, that someone I read frequently writes the same content I do. Or I write the same content they do.
We're all connected and when this happens it just proves it again.
Thanks for visiting and commenting today, Martha!
--
Chris
Thanks for visiting here today, too, Chris, and for sharing this with your circle of friends on Google. Much appreciated!
DeleteYes, this happens so frequently with me, I think I'm going to start keeping a record of it. We are all connected, that's for sure!
Blessings to you!
Children are such a delight. Lovely reflections for today and though I'm hearing about this game for the first time, the message is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteJoy always,
Susan
Oh, yes, children are the best and they bring out the best in all of us.
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed the post, Susan. Thanks so much for coming by!
Love and blessings!
When I was a kid, we did not have play doh, but plain brown clay. Then I had my kids and it was me who enjoyed playing with them more than my kids themselves. Virgina looks absolutely delighted. The kids teach us a lot, don't they?
ReplyDeleteI played with clay, too, Janu, not just Play-Doh, and yes, I think we enjoy playing with it as much as adults as we did when we were kids.
DeleteAnd, yes, kids teach us so much!
Thanks so much for visiting today!
Love and blessings!
Wow.. I have learnt a lot of things from y 5 year old cousin. The first and very important lesson she taught me to be true about my feelings. The moment she says she hates me in anger she means it to the last bit and when she hugs me with love saying I love you dee she means that too 100%.
ReplyDeleteWe adults cannot have that purity of feelings somehow I believe. We mix hatred and love just to pretend and show an artificial us
Oh, yes, that is such a powerful lesson children teach us! True to our feelings . . . There's no pretension in a child's attitude, is there? They are simply "out there" with no agenda; they are simply who they are, take it or leave it.
DeleteThanks so much for dropping by, Me!
Love and blessings!
What a precious little girl! I love this post...bringing us back to a time when time didn't exist at all. It was only the moment. I find I lose myself when I create. We are after all made in His image: the Creator created creators.
ReplyDeleteLove to you sweet Martha. Thank you for reminding me of this today.
Leah
"I find I lose myself when I create . . ." Oh, how I can relate to this one! It is as if time stands still; we don't even think to look at a clock. Precious, coveted experience!
DeleteAnd, yes, God, the Creator, created us to be creative. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it! :)
Thanks so much for coming by, Leah!
Love and blessings!
Play-Doh! Still love the smell of it. Lovely child and lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Galen, for coming by today!
DeleteYou know, it's interesting that you should mention the smell of Play-Doh - this is not the original brand, and I noticed right away that it smelled differently from what my mind recalled. I'll have to get Virginia the "real thing" when I can. :)
Blessings and love!
Children and nature are our best teachers if only we would learn from them. Beautiful post by Gammie and beautiful granddaughter and precious moments. Thanks for sharing with us. And as always you pick the perfect prayer. Blessings to you and yours Martha.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting, Suzy!
DeleteYes, we can learn so much from children and nature, but our eyes and hearts must be open and willing to do so. And, no doubt about it, this Gammie loves her granddaughter! :)
Love and blessings!
True Martha. I was reflecting on the same thing the other day. How children are always living in the moment, without care and concern of anything else. They are reminders for all of us to be more present because that is really all we have. Why do we forget these powerful reminders about the world and ourselves as we become adults:) ?
ReplyDeleteI don't know why we forget how to live in the moment as adults, Vishnu, and have to constantly be reminded that the present is actually all that is guaranteed to us. How neat it is that you were reflecting upon this very thing the other day! If you check out Chris' comment above, you'll see that he, too, wrote about the same subject!
DeleteThanks so much for coming by, my friend!
Blessings to you!
... that we may all become like this little child, and live more fully in every given moment.
ReplyDeleteTo enter God's kingdom, that's what we must become . . .
DeleteThanks so much for visiting, Debra! Miss you, my friend!
Love and blessings!
Hi Martha :) I love you and Virginia Rose ~ thanks for always sharing her with us. I'm learning a lot from them too esp. the part of just 'enjoying' the moment. My little ones would often take me into adventures unknown to me and I allow them to lead the way ~ they become teachers too in that process....
ReplyDeleteI pray with you ~ yes, let us savor those moments You give us Lord... in that area, may I remain child-like.
Lots of love to you Martha and thank you very much for this post.
Thanks so much for dropping by, Melissa, and for your lovely comment!
DeleteYes, I'm sure your precious Saturdates teach you so much. When we allow them to lead the way, as you have, the world takes on a whole different light - God's light!
Thank you for praying with me - yes, may we become like little children, in awe and wonder of all that God has created.
Love and blessings to you, dear one!
Oh, she is so sweet. When do we lose that sense of play and discovery? She has a lot to teach us doesn't she. Kids are like that. And I love her name, Virginia Rose :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting, Lori, and for your kind words!
DeleteEvery time I keep Virginia Rose, it's like a tonic for my heart and soul. Nothing reminds us of the importance of play and wonder as do children. Glad you like her name, too. :)
Love and blessings!
Good to know that the LORD has dealt with our past and holds our future.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, David, and welcome to the blog!
DeleteAmen, my brother! Everything is in God's most mighty and worthy hands. We can rest in the present moment in that knowledge.
Blessings to you!
I LOVE when you post pictures of Virginia. Her wide-eye wonder, her smiles, the love in her eyes, never fails to lift me. There is much to learn and rediscover from your sweet girl. Sadly, we do lose our wonder over the years. The secret is to never stop believing.
ReplyDeleteOh, so glad you love Virginia's photos, Brenda! And, I agree that the secret to keeping our wonder alive is to always believe that everything around us is a miracle.
DeleteThanks so much for visiting!
Love and blessings!