PLAYFUL
He can’t be old, Father, because he is still playful.

Despite his advancing years,
There is still a child within him:
A playful spirit
That wants to laugh
And be silly.
I love that spirit.
I remember it from when I was a child.
We rolled down hillsides,
built hill trolleys,
hid from one another,
went on adventures,
ran in circles,
hung upside down from climbing frames …
That playful spirit is
creative,
fun-loving,
energetic,
resilient,
generous,
hopeful.
Give me a playful spirit
In my faith—
To seek new ways to spread your word;
To express the joy which your love brings;
To be energised by serving you;
To bounce back from disappointment and trauma;
To be generous in my dealings with others;
To be full of hope for this life and the next.
I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. (Mark 10: 15, GNT)