When the girls were small, they enjoyed playgrounds. A trip to the most mundane destination—bank, doctor’s office, DMV—could be salvaged in the girls’ eyes if there happened to be a playground around. We parents enjoyed trips to the playground, as well. There is something magical and life-affirming about watching your children laughing and running and enjoying life simply and innocently. Usually there were other children there at the playground, and in no time new friends had been made and the fun was happening in full force.
On those occasions when there were no other children around, or at least no other children near the girls’ ages, we had this game we liked to play. It involved me hiding some object, a jacket, car keys, water bottle—whatever we had available at the time—somewhere in the playground area while the girls counted with their eyes closed and their backs turned. Once the object was well and truly hidden and I had returned to the bench, they set out to see who could find the “treasure” first. We would play this game over and over, and usually the object was found fairly quickly. Whoever found it would do a little victory dance and come running to me with their trophy held high. There would be celebratory hugs all around and then we’d do it all over again. Sounds silly? I suppose. Maybe. But I enjoyed those moments more than I can say. There is a real pleasure to be had watching your children having fun. There’s even more pleasure in being a part of that fun.
That simple game was on my mind this morning. It made me think of all the times I’ve found some treasure hidden in the playground of my life by my Father. And it makes me wonder what treasures lie still hidden, what blessings God has placed in my life, unseen, while I lived with my back turned and counted incessantly and exclusively all the trials and difficulties, mistakes and failures, hurts and offenses, of my life. If I take a moment and look, I think I may see Him sitting over there on that bench watching me, waiting for me to start the hunt, waiting to grab me in a bear hug and high five me when I finally find what he’s tucked away under the slide or in the corner of the swing set area.
I think I will be on the lookout today for blessings, large and small. I think I will try to discover and appreciate the hidden treasures of the day as I stumble across them. Maybe I’ll do even more than just be on the lookout. Maybe I’ll be intentional and actively look for them. I have an idea that when I find those blessings, at least a couple of them will look a lot like daughters (all grown up now) who still hold my hand on walks, who still ask me for advice, who still want to sit in my chair with me. I will think about that today, and I will be happy and satisfied.
