Play Hard!

This weeks idea for the "To Be" list is: To Be Playful. What exactly does that mean? Playful: 1. full of fun and high spirits; frolicsome or sportive. 2. Humorous; jesting.

You know we get caught up with all of the "to do's that sometimes we forget to play. Well, at least I do. Life is too short not to. Matthew 18: 2-4 highlights Jesus' attitude towards the light-hearted side of life. “He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'” (Matthew 18:2-4)

There are a lot of life situations that make us forget about how to rest and play in the joy of the Lord. And the winter doldroms of the weather don't help either.

Before we get all depressed and grumpy, we need to get more playful. Have some fun. Take ourselves less seriously. Laugh deeply. Recapture the joy of the creation—and our fun-loving Creator.

Ways to be more playful:
1. Put Play! on your to-do list.

2. Pull out the Scrabble or Wii and gather friends or family for a game night. If there’s snow on the ground, cap off the evening with a snowman-building contest. If you’re in a warmer climate, grab a Frisbee or football and head outdoors for some free-for-all fun.

3. Do something creative—knit, draw, sing, write, scrapbook, cook. Your Creator crafted you with unique talents and interests … take time to use them this week.

4. If you’ve got young kids, let them set the menu (if they’re old enough, let them cook!) and agenda for one evening this week.

5. Find some space to yourself (even if it’s just your car), turn on some praise music, and sing and dance for your Creator.

6. Catch a classic TV comedy or movie. Better yet, think of someone who's in serious need of some play--someone wrestling with illness or unemployment--and invite her to watch and laugh with you.

7. Go buy a ball for a child and play catch. That will certainly bolster your attitude and give you some fresh air too. Well at least that always works for me.

What or who do you play with?