Childlike Joy
Children are not the only ones who can be surprised by joy. The oldest of us have moments of liberation when we see with fresh eyes. Here is a place for you to share with others your delight in childlike vision and your response to children's art.

question: when is the last time you played an april fools joke on someone ? I did it today and it's November
- ab, berkeley,ca   18 Nov 2009

It is so great to meet so different people each day, even I know them already.
- Norbert, Cologne   22 Oct 2009

I picked up a flat rectangle of plastic and held in both hand. It was cool and smooth and its surface made the pictures all bright and shiny.The picture on one side was small with lots of words and the other side had a big picture. Along the edge was a place I could stick my fingers in and when I did it opened. The disk inside was brilliant with rainbow relections. The smell inside was like a new toy. Now i understand my child's fascinatinon with handling all things.
- AJ, Grapevine,TX   17 Sep 2009

Today we hosted a treasure hunt party in honor of my daughter's 7th birthday, and I was surprised at how much fun it was for me, too! A friend had created the clues, so I was able to also experience the pleasure of discovery. The easy trust that children offer in allowing themselves to be beneficently guided is a good reminder for me to trust in God's goodness and follow the guideposts.
- cn, chicago, IL   16 Aug 2009

For the pure bliss of holding my tiny new grandson, I am deeply grateful. His smile comes straight from the heart of God.
- Lisa, Kansas City   7 Jul 2009

Thanx for the wonderful concert of the birds each morning starting exactly at 4.19 a.m., sitting in the big tree infront of my windows,Their home,my home....
- NL, Cologne/Germany   24 Jun 2009

I love watching my friend's group of crazydoggies scramble out of the car at top speed one by one and then run like crazy chasing the poor seagulls down the beach. They then race around like eejits experiencing pure joy. The smiles on their wee faces is a delight. Two of the doggies love to swim. They love walking onto a small stone pier which reaches out into the water. More often than not they tumble in the water accidently, swim like mad and regain their dignity as quickly as possible, clambering up onto the wee pier! You'd swear they were looking to see if anyone noticed, pretending it hadn't happened. I love the trips early in the morning to the beach. It's pure pleasure to watch the sun come up with five mad doggies gambling about. For this I am very grateful.
- Kate, ireland   24 Jun 2009

dk, that is so beautiful that you sang to the cats. may you be blessed for your love and commitment to animals.
- aok, new england   21 Jun 2009

When I was a child I made up songs to the feral cats in our neighborhood in NY. As my mother tried to play Chopin I sang songs to the cats. Now I am a veterinarian and I sing of healing and of the Earth and our place in the mystery.
- dk, virginia   13 Jun 2009

I was always forbidden to play in the dirt as a child, and later convinced my own daughter that the dirt was "messy and yucky"!! Although I was never mindful of dirt and all its significants, I had the most interesting occurence the otherday while doing yard work. It started with pulling out several old withered shrubs in hopes to simplify my 20 year old landscape and found myself captivated by the soil. I ran my garden hose over the dirt until it became a rich merky substance. I couldn't resist running my foot back and forth through the mud, then squeezing it between my fingers. Before I knew it I was covered in mud and laughing from a place I didn't know existed anymore. It was at that moment that I was filled with such gratefulness. A gratefulness for everything in the Universe, and to be connected with every element- apart of God and all of creation.
- S.H., GA   4 Jun 2009

Encouraged to look at something before me with child's eyes, I looked at my hands. Each digit, each section, each brown dot, each nail and nail bed. I laced them, and looked inside the cup formed, and the snake of the finger seam, ssssss. And cupped them, palms up, fingers in at 45 degrees, a cup big enough to bring water to a unicorn with thirst, clever child that I am! And touched monkey fingers lightly at tips, quickly and dextrously. I can do anything for my clever, clever hands and for these hands that can play and help and love, I am oh, so grateful.
- Kimmy Jo, Arizona   1 Jun 2009

to become as a child again. To find wonder in each day and to look at life with child like eyes. To know we are still that child like within a poem I have written entitled "Fridays Child" What became of yesterday ...little boo boo cries...fairy tales...red sand pails...peaceful deep blue skies. Up in swings so high we flew...chasing dreams and butterflies with little friends I knew. the poems ending is that child still me...but grown. We are still that child...no different...just getting older.
- sharon, usa   28 May 2009