child’s play

As last summer wound down, I wrote about my young neighbors and our occasional interactions. As a new summer begins the kids are back outside, and when my cocktail of allergy drugs makes it possible I like to have the windows open—which means I’m once again privy to their many arguments, negotiations, and meltdowns.

Some highlights from this week (imagine these in put-upon, fed-up little voices):

You are not LISTENING to me!

He has my stuff—that’s not FAIR!

You are not even smart. You don’t know what you are saying out of your face.

Come here. Come HERE. COME HERE!

You are a stupid IDIOT head.

Jesus said we must become like children to enter the kingdom of God. Although he meant we should have attitudes of humility and simple faith, we usually settle for simple immaturity instead. Thanks, God, for the thousands of years you have endured our complaining and bickering—all without the benefit of drugs.