10/10/2023
Start a movement - Go to the Park
“That's not a very nice place”, “I don't belong there.” “It's not a safe area.”
What other reasons have we made or heard about not going somewhere out of our comfort zone? Whether out of pride, safety, or a sense of belonging. We've all been there and we've all seen this happening…
We had a great and very unusual, usual morning. It was a simple and mundane Saturday morning for our family. Our routine involved taking the kids to cheer camp and soccer fields, followed by a quick stop at Raising Cane’s for lunch and then a visit to the city park. However, what made this day so different and unusual was how well-behaved and wise our kids were throughout it all. At lunch, a gentleman took a moment to walk over and share some of what he observed and complimented us on doing “something right” as parents. That alone would have been enough of a great day…. But it wasn't…not for our God.
Scott and I were determined to reward the kids for their good behavior. Our go-to approach? Treating them to ice cream! We left Cane’s and headed to the ice cream shop in two separate vehicles due to the morning chaos of running kids everywhere. However, as we pulled out and waited at the light, I felt a tug at my heart and called Scott, “Just go straight- we are going to the park.” Perhaps he thought I was a bit crazy for suggesting the park as a special treat. After all, it's just a small park that we drive past every day. But, like always, he put up with my “crazy” and we went to the park.
My daughters were ecstatic and showered us with praise, saying how much they loved us and that we were the best parents ever. Meanwhile, Chandler had a different reaction- very unimpressed and uninterested.
The girls dashed towards the gate, scrambling and climbing all over the equipment as if they had never played in a park before. Seeing their excitement filled my heart with contentment; it was a simple pleasure, just being together and doing something different. At that point, my day was already perfect, but as it turns out, God had more.
Chandler was eager to have some fun, so we decided to play soccer with him. Meanwhile, the girls had already made new friends and were playing nearby. It took a little while for Chandler to join in, but soon he was having a blast. There was another boy around his age who seemed interested in playing, but they were both hesitant to initiate. The awkwardness of youth, I suppose!
I suggested that they play soccer together since they both seemed unsure of how to proceed. Meanwhile, Scott and I watched in awe as a young girl effortlessly did multiple pull-ups, showcasing her impressive strength. I complimented her and invited her to join us in a little game of soccer. We decided to make it a girls versus boys match, and it turned out to be quite competitive. In the end, the girls emerged victorious!
After the game, I sat to take a break and the little girl joyfully did a flawless roundoff flip-flop with incredible ease. In my typical boisterous manner, I shout across the park, "Hey momma! You've got quite the athlete on your hands!" She responds, "Yes, indeed. She has a natural talent for anything she sets her mind to."
At this point, I was truly amazed with this little girl and as an educator at heart, I asked about her favorite subjects and what she wanted to do when she grew up. Her response: "I want to be famous!" I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, and I encouraged her by suggesting that with her athletic abilities and sweet personality, she had a great chance of achieving her dreams. She smiled and said, “Well, I say that because I love to sing!”
I'm not musically inclined, but when I asked her to sing, I knew she would deliver. Despite her shyness and initial indecisiveness, she eventually asked if I knew Adele. What she did next was truly breathtaking! Her voice was angelic, with impeccable range, tone, and articulation that brought tears to my eyes and gave me goosebumps.
After some playful banter about speed, between her and the boys, I suggested settling it with a race. Again, she effortlessly and graciously sprinted through the finish line before the boys.
By this time, I let her know how truly amazing and impressive she was and asked what else she could do. She says, "Let's go build some sand castles!" Although I was hesitant due to the dry sand, we went along with Clarabeth, my art-loving child. Despite our struggles with dry sand, we tried to make sand castles, but they kept falling apart. I suggested that we needed water, but the water fountain was dry. As we continued to try, my new park friend- the exceptional little girl, offered a solution: we had to dig a little to find the wet sand so that it would be stronger and not fall apart.
As I sat there, I couldn't help but think, "She's not only beautiful, athletic, and blessed with a stunning voice, but she's also clever and resourceful!" Before long, all of the other kids joined us, and the true beauty of the day was revealed as we built sand castles together.
In less-than-ideal sand at a very basic park, a group of children built “castles” with dry sand. But it wasn't just about playing and the simple castles composed of mostly dry sand– it was about the beauty of children coming together to create something. These kids were building more than sandcastles, they were demonstrating what a future built on understanding, shared experiences, and determination looked like.
Despite the uncertain times we face as a community, there is much to be gained from simply digging deeper. Rather than focusing on surface-level issues, we should work together to find common ground and create a stronger bond. By digging deeper, we can build something more significant, like using the wet sand beneath the surface to strengthen the sandcastles.
The key to our future is to look beyond the surface and dig deep to reveal the connections that bind us together. That way, we can unite and strengthen our community to create a magnificent future. Together, we'll build a castle fit for the King!
It's time to step out of our comfort zones and explore uncharted territory. Go to the “park”, live freely, find joy, build a beautiful future together, and when you do, be sure to spread the love far and wide by using .
“So there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free people, between men and women; you are all one in union with Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 (GNT)
