I recently attended my four-year-old granddaughter’s end of the year preschool program. Each class sang along with two recorded songs accompanied by some motions. (I wouldn’t quite call it dancing!) She seemed excited as she and her mom left early to to join her friends and save seats for us in the crowded audience. After the younger classes’ presentations, her group went onstage, and she smiled and waved excitedly at her parents and little sister when she spied them.
Once the music started, the kids began their routine—all of them except our sweetie. She crossed her arms and stood there. The few times that she moved, it was only to put her hands over her ears to drown out the music—which she later described as too loud.
When she got to our seats, she had little explanation, saying that she didn’t feel like it.
There’s no real surprise when a four-year-old decides not to do something that she doesn’t feel like, but it becomes a problem when we adults live based on our feelings. The results professionally, relationally, physically, and spiritually could be disastrous. We too can be guilty of crossing our arms and refusing to do things that would bring blessing to God, others, and ourselves.
It’s just something I’m thinking about as I go about my day. What could I do or should I do spiritually, relationally, or physically that I don’t do simply because I don’t feel like it? How does living that way affect me?
