Sunday, December 16, 2007

A Child in Your Heart

I read a couple of things this week that struck a chord inside of me and have lingered and bounced around near my heart and made me feel something that I'm not sure I can put into words. Maybe it will do the same for you.


I know what I really want for Christmas. I want my childhood back. Nobody is going to give me that...I know it doesn't make sense, but since when is Christmas about sense, anyway? It is about a child of long ago and far away, and it is about the child of now. In you and me. Waiting behind the door of our hearts for something wonderful to happen.

--Robert Fulghum



When I was a boy I believed in Christmas.
A miracle season
To make a new start.
But I don't need no miracle
Sweet baby Jesus.
Just help me find
Some kind of hope in my heart.

--Randy Stonehill (Christmas at Denny's)



While I do believe in--and love deeply--the Christ of Christmas more than I ever have, I sometimes long for the unselfconscious ways of childhood. The days before I was told to 'grow up and be a man'. Which all too often means--quit being amazed, stop all that wonder, turn off your feelings and just think about what your doing, after all, it's a big, serious world out there.

I want to be a wild boy again! Not knowing or caring about words like jaded or tainted or disbelief. Not caught in the trap of my own intellect, but free to run in the wide open spaces of my heart. A return to innocence. After all, didn't Jesus come to free us of our guilt and shame? And isn't that what keeps us from living from the deep impulses of our heart? Isn't that called 'innocence'? That's the hope I have today. The hope of a childlike--and yes, even childish--Christmas.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good man John!

Lori said...

Though the two quotes you included gave me pause, it was what you yourself wrote that really touches my heart. I can relate so much to those words in many ways.

I have such wonderful memories of my childhood Christmas'...and the magic that always surrounded those sweet and simple growing up years.

Even now I have so many child-like things in my heart..and I think that's a good thing. We can still carry that wonder inside, even if we are adults. There is a difference, I think, between growing up and growing old.

Most people don't even think of this, John, so I know somewhere inside of you that little boy still plays, hopes and dreams.

Lori said...

I hope that you are finding time to enjoy Christmas and are able to spend time with your sweet children. Blessings...

Lori said...

Hope that you, too, had an old-fashioned Christmas filled with love and joy!

Lori said...

Sorry to keep bursting in on your blog (!) but going over some of your previous posts I was looking at the photo of your children (who are beautiful, by the way). I have a niece at WA STATE and a dear brother who lives near Snohomish. I know WA is a big state...but is that anywhere near your route?

John said...

Lori-Snohomish is about 40 miles due east of my route, as the crow flies. However, it would take about 2 hours by road. It's not all that far actually.

Cheryl said...

I hope you had a chance to be a wild boy over Christmas. :) Happy New Year!

Ame said...

"Which all too often means--quit being amazed, stop all that wonder, turn off your feelings and just think about what your doing, after all, it's a big, serious world out there."

Because it's a big, serious world out there, we need to NEVER quit being amazed, being full of wonder, experiencing our feelings. There's a time to just "think and do," but that's just a part of life, not all of it.

Thanks for visiting my site

Lori said...

A Happy New Year to you, filled with joy and blessings!

Cheryl said...

I love your writing, John. I'm sure I'm not alone in that. How can we get you to post more often?