Child’s Play

The goal of every parent is to raise a child (or children) that are secure in the unique personality God created them to be, and to become an individual who can take of themselves when parents are no longer there.

The exact opposite of this, which most mothers and fathers simply dread, is the play boy (or party girl). My definition for this is a carefree (often wealthy) individual who finds reality unpleasant, and instead devotes themselves to participating (on a consistent basis) in the pleasures of things like sports, nightclubs, careless spending, and casual sex. Driving in the “fast lane” of life rarely gets anyone to their needed destination.

Sometimes I think it would be nice to go back to a simpler time when I was supported by someone else, and they could deal with all the challenges I face as an adult. Living in a fantasy world of my own creation (in whatever form that takes) would often seem preferable to being a middle class grown up.

I then consider my aged mother, and think would I want to throw my remaining living parent back through all the challenges of being a single parent again? My answer is a firm “no.”

As an adult, there are many things I do on a regular basis not necessarily because I find them extremely, but because I love the being I’m doing it for.

I feed our three Chihuahuas twice a day because Chico, Rosco, and Lola are valuable to me. I help out with household chores, and work part-time because I want to take some of the stress of my wife as the member of our household that plans the budget and pays the bills.

As a result of my Lymphoma in 2009, I choose to participate in yearly cancer check-up because I don’t want the possibility of putting family and friends through that a second time because I simply cherish them. (Personally, I wish I could ignore the whole thing like cancer had never happened to me.)

Thus far “in remission” is what I hear at every annual appointment with Dr. Robert Baiocchi. According to Bobbi, I don’t recognize how moody I get the week prior to this event. I seem to be helpless not to participate in the “what if” game every 365 days.

In the life of every competent adult (may exclude age or health), the Bible says I Corinthians 13:11 (NLT) must happen. “When I was a child, [I spoke, thought, and reasoned as a child]. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.”

If you are serious about discovering your loving Heavenly Father, He will allow you to find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). A good study Bible (or easy-to-read translation) will help you discover what the Almighty both likes and dislikes. He wants you to be the best versions of yourself that the two of you can make happen.

Nobody (but you and God) can bring about true change. The Heavenly Father desperately wants positive permanent change for you. Take a moment, and read Romans 3:4. Think about it. Remember, the Almighty has always been honest and faithful to you. Make sure any decision you make takes Him into account.