Have you ever sat and watched children play? They’re so naive about the world around them. Yet this never gets in the way of them experiencing joy or having fun. Children are teaching me how to be present, and it’s been the most fascinating, yet humbling observation.

This Memorial Day 2023, I decided to rest and reflect. I spent a beautiful, but short weekend visiting family. However, once I returned back from my trip, all I wanted to do was sleep. As I woke up from my nap, I heard two kids playing outside my window. I heard that they were playing catch, and one of the kids wasn’t very confident about his skills. As one of them was getting ready to throw the ball, I could hear him yelling, “OK, I’m getting ready to throw it. Don’t you laugh at me!”. Then without hesitation, he threw the ball and his friend caught it.

Children are often so innocent and honest.

They are very aware of their fears. Yet some children do not allow their fears to stop them from living in the present. Also, some kids are really great at communicating how they feel in the present moment. Even if it doesn’t always make sense.

Listening to those kids this afternoon made me reflect on my anxiety, and how it steals my ability to experience joy in the present. Anxiety has a way of exhausting you with 1,001 questions about the future and the past. And no matter how many scenarios you come up with, it is never enough. Yet, in all their innocence, children can recognize their present emotion. Then share about it, and return to their current activity as if nothing happened.

I think God wanted me to be still and listen to those two kids playing outside. Children are teaching me how to be present by showing me how to let go, and surrender.

As I listened to those kids, I whispered a prayer to myself that God would help me to become fully present again. I prayed that he would help me surrender all the what-ifs. Or the imaginary timelines, and live knowing that he’s got everything under control. I want to giggle like the child outside screaming, “Man down, man down” because he ran too fast to catch the ball. In the moment he didn’t allow his tiredness to ruin the game. But he took a break to rest and returned back to the game.

The ability to be fully present requires us to have a naive faith, similar to children, where we don’t worry about outcomes or the potential dangers around us. But instead, we put all our energy into playing as if nothing else is happening. We must also learn how to trust that if danger somehow does occurs, someone bigger, and wiser than us, will be there to rescue us to safety.