Just Turned Five

Matthew 19:14
14Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Just Turned five is the perfect age. Not going to be five, because people still see you as little. Not five and on half, because there is a chance you are in school. But when you are just turned five people look at you and say, “My how big you’ve gotten.” And you can’t wait to go to school in the fall.

At just turned five you are not yet big enough to have many chores. So your biggest responsibility is to play. When you are just turned five playing is your job. You get to sleep late, go to bed early and take naps. You can spend the entire time between dinnertime and bedtime in a bath. You have a complete disregard for the water temperature. You will play with boats, measuring cups and a colander until your lips are blue, your teeth are chattering and your toes and fingers are shriveled like raisins. The only way you will ever be warm again is to have mommy help you into your fuzzy footie pajamas and curl up in daddy’s lap with your favorite blanket. It doesn’t take long and you’ve fallen asleep in daddy’s lap while he strokes your hair and you watch T.V. Then daddy carries you off to bed, tucks you in, says a quick prayer and kisses your forehead. The best part is the next day you get to wake up and do it all over the next day.

The problem is when you are just turned five you have no concept of what the future holds, so you can’t appreciate being just turned five. Instead we whine because we don’t always get what we want. We complain about having to pick up our toys. Battle our parents over naps. Tantrum at the thought of taking a bath and fight to keep our eyes open as we drift off to sleep.

I don’t know at what age it happened, but it happens to a to everyone, we realize that sleeping late, going to bed early, long bathes or a new appliance makes us as happy as a small child on Christmas morning. I think it was at that moment in my life that I realized I was an adult.

At just turned five you don’t worry about what’s for dinner. If you don’t like what mom cooked you can always fall back on your favorite standby peanut butter and jelly. As you walk through the house room to room and flip the light switches and a ceiling light comes on to light your way. When you’re thirsty you go to the bathroom sink, pull up your stool, turn on the faucet and water comes out to fill your glass. You feel free to fall asleep while riding in the back seat of the car. You’re confident in the fact that daddy is behind the wheel and will get you home safely. You don’t worry about these things because in you trust in your heart that daddy is taking care of everything.

Something happens to us when we reach adulthood and we don’t even realize it is sneaking up, until one day it kicks you squarely in the butt! That something is reality with a capitol R!

When you realize you are no longer footloose and fancy free, but it is your turn to be responsible. You are the one cooking dinner, making the PB & J’s, making sure the bills are paid and trying to stay awake as you drive those who are precious to you safely home. It happens so gradually that you don’t ever see it coming; it is just the natural progression of how life works. We become overwhelmingly aware that daddy is no longer taking care of everything, but others are looking to us to do so.

Now that we all feel as if we are suffocating under an avalanche of responsibility, sit back, close your eyes and take a deep breathe, because the pressure valve is about to be released.

Daddy is taking care of everything! God has it all in control. He sees it all from the beginning to the end and all he asks is that we trust with all our heart, coming to Him as a child who just turned five.

You will still have to cook dinner, but Daddy God knows what you will have and from where it will come. It is still acceptable to have P B & J for dinner. Daddy God is also providing you with a job giving you the ability to pay the bills. So the lights will come on and the water will run. If you look to God He will always light your path

Take a day let the house be a mess. It will still be a mess tomorrow. I can promise that no little fairies will come in and clean while you sleep. Be sure to plan just a little by staying up as late as you want the night before, sleep late into the next morning, take a nap in the sun, play hard at something you truly enjoy, eat peanut butter and jelly for dinner, take a long bath, put on your favorite pajamas, wrap yourself in your favorite blanket and curl up in daddy God’s lap. His lap is big enough for everyone. Let Him stroke your hair while you watch your favorite old movie until you drift off to sleep. For just one day try being just turned five. I strongly suggest you repeat monthly. Daddy God will be pleased.