Things Graduates (and other adults) Can Learn from Kindergarteners

This morning I helped walk about sixty kindergarteners from Willowdale Elementary to a park on the north side of Lake Zorinsky. It is one of those parks with colorful, plastic equipment and ground that is covered with the fine sand. The sky was blue. A cool breeze softened the warm sun. The kids were excited. The teachers were relieved to be out of the classroom.

David ordering Mac and Cheese with a side of Mac and Cheese

I know many of the children. They don’t call me Craig or pastor or Pastor Craig. I’m simply David’s dad—which is quite a splendid title. I have lunch with them occasionally. They like sitting next to the guy who gives out French fries. Many of them like to come up to me after school and give me a report on David’s day. I get more information, and better information, out of them than I do from David. They are an energetic group of adrenaline junkies who have cost the tooth fairy a lot of money this year. They are more covered in more optimism than they are in sunscreen and they are drenched in sunscreen. Theirs is a life of freedom—void of attachments.

Fast-forward twelve years. The innocent girls will be young women. The boys will care more about pecking order than they do French fries. The young adults will spend the morning getting fitted for a graduation robe and pass on the playing in the park. They won’t worry about what they are having for lunch. Their anxiety will be about where they are going to college, summer jobs, money, and saying goodbye to friends they have had for the last thirteen years.

In a dozen years, I’ll see some of the other parents at the grocery store or in church. I already know the conversation we’ll be having: “Do you remember the morning we walked the kids down to the park? Can you believe that was twelve years ago?” Life goes on at a predictable and relentless pace. I hang out with children a lot – mine and others. We adults can learn a lot from them, you know, especially the little ones.

• Explore and ask lots of questions. Learning is the beginning of living.
• Forgive quickly. Life is too short to bear grudges and carry resentment.
• Don’t worry about tomorrow. It steals joy and abundance from today.
• Embrace play. It makes life more sustainable and more pleasurable.
• Don’t beat yourself up over past mistakes. Learn from them and move on.
• Dream big. The size of your life will not exceed the size of your dreams.
• Love unconditionally. Don’t worry about skin color, social background, gender, or age. Just do your best to love like God loves.

 The best is yet to come…

Craig