The Toys Outside
Spring often brings on new ideas, new life, and new beginnings. It’s just that time of year. The flowers start to bloom, the buds on the trees start to form, and the smell of a freshly plowed field fills the air. All reasons why I love Spring.
Since it has been over 30 degrees, Mazy seems to ask on a daily basis, within 15 minutes of waking up, if we can go outside. Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE going outside, but sometimes first things first. Breakfast, getting ready for the day, and honestly getting myself ready and prepared for the day.
We are sometimes outside by 9.00am and do not come back in until it’s close to lunchtime. As soon as she wakes up from her nap, within 30 minutes, we are back outside again. Not that we have this extravagant play area outside – we have a sandbox, swing, and place for her to pedal around on her bike. But what I realize is that this little girl truthfully doesn’t even need toys. All she needs is God’s creation.
Children see God’s creation as a playground in and of itself.
Do we too?
Often we think we need this or that in order to be happy or to enjoy the outdoors. Now don’t get me wrong – it’s easier to see a lake on a boat than standing on the shore at times. It’s easier to see an area on a bike than in our driveway. What I’m saying is that sometimes I too, need to just sit and smell the roses – literally.
One of Mazy’s favorite activities is chasing robins. Those poor birds – all they want to do is dig for a worm, but Mazy is right on it’s tail, wanting to pet it. Of course she never gets within 6 feet of them, but to her it’s a game. She thinks it’s great fun and that’s all that matters.
Then there are sticks – it took us 30 minutes to walk around a little block in our neighborhood because she had to pick up every stick. By the end, her hands were too full, but she was determined to help “pick up”. Oh then the “dead” dandelions (wait til the real ones come up) – she loves to “pick” them and give them to mommy.
Planes “up sky” are always a novelty to find. Sometimes we need our sunglasses to search for them, buy lying on the grass, looking for planes, never gets old.
Then there are the imaginary baby chicks that apparently live under our deck. She takes the dead leaves off of a bush and feeds them. She nurtures them as if they were her own, as she asks us to pet them. We have yet to see these chicks, but she is pretty certain they are there and oh to see the imagination of a 2 year old flourish. I’ve learned, don’t second guess the mind of a 2 year old because they are REAL.
All little aspects of God creation that creates this little playground. The things Mazy takes time to marvel at, I would typically just walk by. I now see leaves in a whole new way. I see the fun that it is to search for the moon while the sun is still up. And Mazy always seems to find it before I do.
So thank you, heavenly Father, for creating a playground for us here on earth. Not one filled with man-made toys, but one filled with reflections of who You are – the creative beauty that you so graciously gave to us through your creation.
Thank you too, for helping us see Your world in a whole new way – through the eyes of a child.
