A Time Even for Play

"Get to work! No time to play, there is work at hand to be done!!! " My taskmaster God says to me. "Children play not adults"

These seem to be the words that have played through my mind. As I realized my perception of my Heavenly Father in this context, my heart first cringed and then it sobbed. My heart began to cry and the tears poured from my eyes. I cried because the picture of God I had created was one of a taskmaster that valued work way above enjoyment. In my mind God was always more pleased with us when we were hard at work.

Don't get me wrong, God values work. But He also values our play.

On Sunday nights I am leading a group of women through the study "Making Peace with Your Past" by Tim Sledge. In this book he talks about children who lose their childhood. As I prepared my lesson, I realized that I myself had significantly lost a large part of my childhood. Through this, I lost the ability to enjoy just playing.

The belief (lie) working in my life from my core values was "life is not about having fun, it serious, no playing allowed". As I realized this, my heart was so sad. I have always struggled with this. Letting go and enjoying myself comes few and far between for me. Even enjoying play times with my children has been difficult. It makes sense to me now; I didn't allow myself to enjoy it because in my mind it was wrong and definitely not something that God valued.

As I took this new revelation to God in prayer, I asked him "Tell me your truth Lord. I want to know what your truth is about this." Here's what He told me.

"How then, Sherri, can I not be a God of play when I am a God of love?" "I am love, do you not remember?" "Who am I then?" He asked me.

This was my reply. "You are love. The God, who created me, breathed life into me and loved me enough to save me. The God that waited patiently for me as I ran from you. The God that gently took me in your arms when I returned after much rebellion and many years on my own. The God that has such tender mercy, even when I fail so often to do as you ask. You are gentle, kind and loving. The God that created joy, laughter and singing. The one that sings over me."

"Would it then be safe to say that if I am all these things to you, I would also want you to enjoy the laughter and joy I put in your life?" God asked me.

God spoke this truth into my soul. “I am all the things you spoke of and more. I created you for my pleasure. I take much pleasure in your joy, in your laughter and yes even in your play. I am not the hard taskmaster of your thoughts. I want much for you and that includes happiness in your heart.”

My response could be none other than this.

Oh My Lord,
I want to remember to smile a little brighter. I want to play a little harder and enjoy every minute. I want to breathe a little easier and let myself be. I want to love a whole lot more and give of myself better. Help me play with pure joy in my heart so that those in my life see you a little clearer. I so love you Lord.

Amen