How to Spark Childlike Wonder

I had a friend visiting from out of town this week, and she was here for the entire week. (That feels like such a treat as an adult, doesn't it?)

We both had to work, but it was so special to be able to just live daily life together in my home. While I loved everything Emily and I got up to while she was visiting, one of my favorite things we did was start each day with a dance party.

I grew up dancing. (Any other dance kids in the room?) The barres, leotards and mirrored walls were a part of my daily routine for a very long time.

I still love to dance, but somewhere along the way from my childhood dance studio to adulthood I lost the routine of it. Now I just dust off my moves at weddings and the occasional concert.

Maybe you have something like that, too. Maybe you've lost the practice of drawing or painting just for fun, reading under the covers with a flashlight, stopping to pick wildflowers in the summer, or running through a pile of leaves in the fall.

We often forget and let go of something we loved as we grow up, and we're not always sure how it happened.

While I don't plan on going back to the leotards and pink tights, this past week was a sweet reminder that I can rediscover that childhood wonder and fun whenever I want to. 

You might be thinking that this sounds silly, or that wonder is somehow reserved for children. However, I would argue that childlike wonder can be biblical.

Even Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2–4).

While he is talking about the humility of children in this context, I think there’s a lot of wisdom to be found in the way children see the world.

Childlike faith and wonder allow us to see ourselves rightly in the midst of God’s kingdom. 

While we’re deeply important to God (Matthew 6:25–26), our lives aren’t about us. Our lives are meant to glorify God. We can rest in that.

When we wonder at creation and the blessings God has given us, we can let go a little more of the control we seek and embrace again the childlike faith we once had. 

While dancing around my home office, living room or kitchen with Emily might be more fun than doing it by myself, I can still do that by myself and experience that joy. I can pick up something I loved that made me feel a little more free and a little more fun just because I want to.

And you can, too.

If you're feeling a little bogged down this week (or even if you're not), I'm inviting you to revisit an old hobby, activity or practice that you once loved. 

Break out the dance moves in your kitchen. Run through the crisp leaves in the park. Write some lines of poetry. Go for a swim in the lake.

Create that spark of joy for yourself, friend! 

Allow yourself to wonder at the life God has given you.

These small sparks of joy can make all the difference, my friend. Let me know how it goes this week in the comments—I want to hear all about it! And, you might just get a reply from me as I do jazz squares around my desk.