My daughter is 2-years-old, and she’s still learning a lot about life, but one thing she has already mastered— like, she’s an expert, not to brag or anything, but like truly she’s gifted in this area—is the art of playing. This girl knows how to play. She devotes a lot of time to it, so she should be getting good at it!
Most of her discovery comes out of play. Her sense of awe and wonder comes out of play. Her primary form of learning right now comes from play. She’s getting a whole lot out of simply playing pretend, making things out of playdough, playing hide and seek and riding her tricycle.
Play. That’s what she does. She makes it look fun. That’s how good she is at it.
We all used to spend a good chunk of our day as small children playing. It came effortlessly to us. Backyards, playrooms, parks, playgrounds, pillow forts, swimming pools and tree houses were all where the magic happened.
Then we grew up…
And we stopped playing. To a large extent, this just seems to follow the natural order of things. We grow and mature. We take on more and more responsibilities. Over time our to-do lists get filled with homework assignments, household chores, errands, meetings, inboxes, and work deadlines. We grow into tweens and then teenagers and then young adults and then full blown grown-ups with bills to pay and someone to report to. Then for many of us we get married and have kiddos of our own. And somewhere along the way, we also take on more and more leadership roles in the workplace, our church, and our communities.
Play doesn’t seem to easily fit into the schedule, does it? Most leaders I talk to struggle to make time to squeeze in a workout let alone invest time and energy into a hobby they enjoy.
But play matters more than we realize. It’s not just something we’ll get to one day when we have more time miraculously (spoiler alert: that day probably won’t be coming anytime soon) or try to put more effort into doing every January as part of our “new year, new me” ambitions.
The act of play is vital to our mental health, is a key component of practicing the Sabbath, a relationship builder (because remember when you were a kid and playing with others was a whole lot of fun), and a great practice for discovery and growth. In other words, play is good for the heart and good for the brain.
Most important of all, when the source of our play is pure fun and not indulging in sinful pleasures, it draws us closer to a God who is the ultimate Pro at delight. He is the source of all joy and when we make time for good ole’ fun, we get to experience the joy God created us for. We get a glimpse of Heaven right here on earth by simply making space to do something fun just for the sake of fun.
So friend, keep working hard. Your diligence brings glory to God… But also, make some time to play. This isn’t just the summer talking here. Find something that brings you joy that is unrelated to work and household responsibilities, and make it a part of your monthly, bimonthly or weekly rhythms. If you are an avid book reader, join the book club. If you love the outdoors, go on all the hikes. If you want to be active, take up pickle ball or golf or running or Zumba or something. If you love to bake, bake them cookies. If you are an artist, then head to Hobby Lobby, get your supplies, and paint away.
Value play in your life. Get out there, have fun and make some new memories. It’s not only essential to your joy, but it’s essential to your growth.
P.S. Are you a woman in ministry? I want to invite you to join my next Lead with Love Coaching & Cohort Online Program beginning this fall. Gain the coaching, community and resources you need to lead bravely and boldly without sacrificing your well-being. There are only a few spots left. Learn more and secure your spot here.