When did we forget?

I’ve been struggling lately with being an adult. You know what I mean—always running, always trying to check something off the list, rushing from one task to the next. It feels like there’s never enough time to simply enjoy things anymore.

I remember when life felt slower. As a kid, a road trip wasn’t about getting somewhere—it was about watching the scenery, or spotting shapes in the clouds. But now? I’m the one behind the wheel, flying down the highway at ninety miles per hour, racing from point A to point B. Somewhere along the way, that became my new “thrill.” Funny how that happens, isn’t it?

And I know I’m not the only one. So many of us find ourselves longing for the days of our youth. People call it nostalgia, but I wonder if it’s something deeper. Maybe it’s not about missing the past—it’s about missing the simplicity, the wonder, the quiet joy of being fully present.

Scripture says,

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.”— 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)

And yet, in another breath, Jesus tells us to become like little children if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). It seems like a contradiction—but really, it’s an invitation.

Being childish is one thing. But being childlike? That’s different.

Being childlike is remembering how to laugh without overthinking. It’s running through sprinklers on a hot day, or playing a messy game of flag football with your cousins. It’s letting yourself dance to music no one else can hear. It’s walking through your favorite city at your favorite time of day, with your favorite person, and knowing that for this one sacred moment there’s nowhere else you'd rather be.

Being childlike is learning to breathe again. It’s giving yourself permission to rest, to play, to trust that God will handle what’s ahead. It’s remembering that when you fall, you don’t stay down—you get back up, and keep going. Because that’s how we learn.

Maybe that’s what Jesus meant. Not to forsake our responsibilities, but to remember joy. To not lose the awe of seeing God’s hand in the simple things. To grow in wisdom but still keep wonder.

So today, I’m asking God to help me slow down. To find Him not only in the race, but in the rest stop. To remember that the kingdom belongs to those who know how to see with the eyes of a child.

Reflection Question:

What’s one simple, childlike joy you can rediscover this week to help you slow down and reconnect with God?

Prayer:

Lord, help me remember the beauty of being childlike. Teach me to slow down, to see You in the ordinary, and to find joy in the simple moments again. Remind me that growing in faith doesn’t mean losing my wonder—it means learning to see You everywhere. Amen.