Traveling with grandkids is an eye-opening experience to say the least. They never cease to create interesting activities, even while buckled into seat belts.
We were traversing a highway in San Diego when granddaughter Hunter, nine, and grandson, Harrison, six, began to play the game of “pretend.” The imaginary characters ranged from farm animals to Transformers and finally to Ken and barbie dolls. Every sentence began with “Pretend…”
Transformer: “Pretend I changed into a monster and then a car.”
Ken: “Pretend I broke up with you because I didn’t like you anymore.”
Before long, we heard a “Whack!” and an “Ouch!” Then we heard Harrison say, “Pretend I didn’t hit you, Hunter!” My husband Dave and I quickly turned around to assess the damage, and when we realized that no one was hurt, we broke into stifled laughter!
Ironically, we both realized that as childish as our grandson’s behavior seemed, adult situations can mimic this “pretend” scenario. How often do I say something that hurts, and expect the recipient to just ignore it! Or I “pretend” that what someone else said or did to me doesn’t matter, but soon I’m sulking or brooding over it.
And how often have we “pretended” that life shattering events didn’t really affect us? Imaginations can be wonderful in their place but we all have to grow up some day. I love the wording of 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) as it exhorts us to “Cast down imaginations and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ.”