As I sit to write this newsletter, the sun is coming up over the trees and shining right into my home office. It’s hard to imagine something so far away can still generate such warmth on us. A warmth, not just of the sunray’s heat, but after this last cold spell, a warmth of heart in inspiration and anticipation of the arrival of spring. I actually saw a robin in my yard yesterday.
I remember as a child being told by my parents that at this time of year, spring was just around the corner. Confused by this saying, I kept asking, “What corner?” Where should I look around? (I actually would look expectantly around each corner for a while.) This idea of spring “just around the corner” excited my youthful hopes. Of course, my parents got a kick out of this, and so, continued to make this comment just to watch me become so excited. Eventually, I came to understand that it is just a “play on words.” Yet, even knowing this today, I still get a childlike feeling of excitement as I visualize this time of year, nearing winter’s end.
Along this line of childlike excitement, I’d like to share with you an incident that I witnessed many years ago at a department store. I was in the checkout line. Ahead of me, trying to finish checking out, was a young mother with a 6-year-old and an infant. She was trying to decide with the clerk what couple of things to put back because she was short of money. While this was taking place, the 6-year-old wandered over to a game machine. It was one of those big windowed boxes with a crane-like contraption and claws that drop down to grab special trinkets—like small stuffed toys—inside. One must manually maneuver the claws to pick the prize one wants and deposit it into the shoot so it falls down, and then YOU WIN! I think we all know the odds of actually winning anything (except lighter pockets & purses from using up the quarters).
The 6-year-old came racing back naïvely excited, exclaiming, “Mom, Mom! I just saw the “tiger” I wanted to get. I know I can’t buy anything, but this is only a quarter, and it’s just what I want!” The mother looked distraught, as she tried to explain to her son that it was a waste of money, and she did not have quarters to keep giving him to try to win “that special stuffed toy.” His excitement was unrelenting. “Mom, just one quarter? Just one. I know I can do it. I just know it. Just one quarter, and I won’t ask for another one. I promise.”
I felt angry that department stores allowed such machines that preyed on the young minds and hopes of innocent youth for profit. This poor child would end up disappointed one way or another. Either his mother would not give him the quarter, or she would give him the quarter, and he’d use it, and get nothing. Either way, he’d be sad. Those were the options I saw as an experienced and wise adult.
Eventually the mother relented and gave him just one quarter. As he began to bolt away from her, she grabbed his arm and said, “I can’t give you another one.” He replied, “That’s okay Mom. I won’t need another one.” And off he ran to the machine. My heart was saddened for what was about to take place.
As the mother finished checking out, I heard the boy shouting with glee. “See, see I told you! All I needed was one quarter.” He was carrying the toy stuffed tiger he had been determined to get. I could not believe it! J
This incident made me reflect on the childlike excitement—the “daring to dream”—that I had pushed aside, now that I was an adult. I felt it was God’s way of reminding me to have the faith of a child. While we all have to face the facts of life, every once in a while, it doesn’t hurt to relive our childlike excitements.
Over this month of March, as we say goodbye to winter and hello to signs of spring, may your hopes and dreams come to bear fruit in you. Dare to dream like a child and your outlook will change. Spring is just around the corner!
God bless,
Pastor Deborah
