The Beauty Of Play
Posted by Prairierose on Jul 18, 2006Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
A Time for Everything1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
Everything is a gift from God. Even though this scripture doesn’t list it specifically, I know God gave us the gift of “play”. A time to play. Even though work is importantly, whether it be working to make a living, or working for the Lord, even God rested. Its important that we step back, from our day to day agenda, and just play. Simple play. I realize in the “here and now”, sometimes the way we play is just as much hard work as what we do in our work lives. I think God intended for us to play simply. To enjoy the simple things of life. To chase butterflies. To tickle our toes in a cool stream on a hot day. To jump rope with our children.
A time to play. To take a day and spend it with a good friend. Doing things you both enjoy.
A time to play. Laughing at your husband’s jokes, even though you have heard them a hundred times. That family time isn’t a rarity, but rather the norm. And board games a way of life, not just something done when the electricity has gone off and you are left to your own devices …. no TV, no computer….
This is the beauty of play. It allows us to be children again. To not feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, for a short time. To laugh and be silly. The beauty of play is as essential as working. We often forget that. There is always too many things that need to be done, too many people to take care of, who need you, depend on you, you feel like you have no time for play. But, you will find, that if you take just a few hours to play, you will be refresh, revived, and ready to tackle life again.
There is a time for everything. Let’s play!
Hostess: Leann
July 18th, 2006 at 9:48 am
OOOOOHHHHHH SOOOOOO TRUE!!!
Interesting post!!! Thanks a bunch for sharing!!
July 19th, 2006 at 6:33 am
Too funny, I picked that passage of scripture also for my carnival post. Great points Carolyn!
August 14th, 2006 at 12:27 am
This is the goodstuff. God has a plan, a reason for everything happening here. :D