Why Kids Bounce (And We Don't)

Kids bounce.  I'll be watching my 1 year old toddle around, get a little unsteady and PLOP!  What happens as I keep watching?  No crying.  No whining.  He just gets back up and keeps going.  He bounces.  The same thing happened when my now three year old was a toddler.  She'd fall, get back up and keep going.  My wife and I made sure as we were raising her, and now him, that when our kids fell we didn't rush to them and fawn over them every time they had a bump or a bruise.  As much as it can hurt your heart not to rush to your children to make sure they haven't hurt themselves you must hold yourself back.  If they're really hurt they'll start screaming and then you can rush in and make them feel better.  Nine times out of ten I bet they just bounce and keep going.

I remember talking with some friends after church one Sunday and watching a little kid running around.  All of a sudden he fell and bumped something, knee or arm I can't remember.  He started to cry but then realized that his parents weren't anywhere around.  The faucets stopped.  He started looking for his parents.  After 5-10 seconds he saw them.  Immediately the tears started flowing as he ran to his mom.  She hugged him and kissed his hurt.  She did all she could to make him feel better.

Now imagine this happening to you.  You're walking along and you hit an ice patch.  PLOP!  What do you do next?  I'm pretty sure it's not as simple as getting back up and keeping on going.  In fact I wager that there's a little crying and whining going on with the rubbing of your backside.  You may even not say anything until you see someone you know who can commiserate with you and make you feel better.  As adults we just don't bounce as well as we used to because continued bouncing takes a toll.

My three year old bounces as well.  But her bouncing is a little different.  My wife recently called her a "little tigger."  Like any three year old she is full of endless energy.  Remember the saying "The shortest distance between two points is a straight line?"  It does not apply to three year olds.  And if it's been a hard day it can be a little much to handle.  I wrote about it a few months ago.  You have to let go and lose your impatience.  Otherwise it will be a trying experience. 

Adults just don't have the energy that kids have.  Let me rephrase that.  Adults don't have the same type of energy that kids have.  Kids have the energy of the Energizer Bunny.  They just keep going and going and going.  But as adults that energy turns into strength.  Adult can do the heavy lifting while kids can keep moving almost continuously, to bounce when something (like the floor) tries to get in their way.

So where am I going with all of this?  According to God's Word, the development our spiritual life is like the development of a child into an adult.  

"However, I could not talk to you as to men, but as to mere infants in Christ.  I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough for it."

1 Corinthians 3:1-2

There will be times as young Christians that bouncing is necesary.  A little unsteadiness will come along.  You'll be hanging out with friends and go ahead and have that cigarette you promised never to have again.  You're hanging a painting and the hammer hits a thumb, "$@#!"  You're late for work and someone cuts you off on the highway.  Out comes the bird.  PLOP!  You've fallen on your butt.  But then you bounce.  You ask God to forgive your sins.  He does.  You keep growing up.

Over time it gets easier.  You sin less and less.  You trust God more and more.  You grow into an adult Christian and you develop strength.  Strength that you'll need.  Because Satan will try to slip a little ice under you foot.  PLOP!  You've fallen on your butt.  But you don't bounce.  You sit there for a little while.  Then you get up and rub your backside a little.  Do a little whining and crying.  And then God forgives you.  You feel better.  And you keep growing.

You may not bounce anymore, but you still have the strength to keep going.