According to an article at wired.com the five best toys of all time are…[pause to take a guess at 2 or 3 things you think may have made the list]…
… did you guess any of the following?
> A Stick – what kid hasn’t gotten mileage out of a crocked stick they found in the woods?
> A Box – it can be a hiding place, or a larger box can be turned into the body of a robot or a car.
> String – kids will use it to tie things together or fly a kite. They may even attach it to the stick they found to make a fishing pole.
> Cardboard Tube – if it’s thick enough it can be a perfect sword or lightsaber. It can also suddenly become a telescope that allows a young imagination to spot the incoming pirates as sea.
> Dirt – I’ve read that there are some studies have shown that kids who get to play in dirt have stronger immune systems. Lol!
This interesting list is a reminder that the best things in life are often the simplest things. Here are a few ‘random’ thoughts about simplicity:
Simplicity seems like an archaic idea, but kids can teach us good lessons about simplicity and the joys of it. Let’s be open to learn and grow in this area.
Dave Ramsey quotes someone as saying something significant: “Living simply so others can simply live.” Learning to live simply is something that honours Jesus and can contribute to the well-being of others, as we live in such a way that frees up resources to help others and give to meaningful missional causes.
We have a way of complicating life in so many ways. Living a life that is over-whelming and over-complicated can very easily become a distraction to how God wants us to live and how He would want us to use the one life He’s given us.
With Christmas upon us very soon, I can’t help but think of the simplicity of the Christmas message. Some have tried to complicate it, because in their minds it seems “too simple,” but God did not want to make the way to know Him personally and eternally a complicated thing.
The Christmas message is simple: God loved (you); God sent (His Son); God offers salvation (through the gift of Jesus Christ). I love that kind of simplicity.
In John 14:6 Jesus said it so simply that many stumble over it. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
That’s simple and that’s good!