Last week, CM and I went to a meeting of a young adults ministry we used to go to. The boy came along although it started around his bedtime. We were feeling adventurous.
Little dude did a great job. At the time of day when he’s used to Daddy singing lullabye in his ear, he was rocking to young adults in worship.
Afterwards, we mingled with people and let friends hold the boy. Lots of people gave him a big smile and told him how cute he is. He was loving it.
Later, CM joked with me that I was loving it, too. She was right! What is it about hanging out with young people that makes me feel cool?
I don’t desperately wish that I was their age again. I love my life now. There’s a sort of innocence to that age though — even in your early 20s. You’re hopeful, dreaming about what you’ll do and where you’ll go for the rest of your life. You’re not saddled with a mortgage, 2 AM diaper changes, an annoying homeowners association, and a daily stack of Explanation of Benefits from your health insurance.
By God’s grace, CM and I still feel young even though we’re saddled with all that. Being old really is a state of mind. We try to be fun people who talk about fun things and go fun places. We don’t want to take ourselves too seriously (can you tell?). And we don’t want to feel above anyone else because of the number of years we’ve been alive.
I admit that hanging out with young people makes us feel cool. And that’s great ’cause we hang out with one of the youngest people we know!
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my goodness. i can’t believe cool dad left me a comment.
by the way. being one of those young twenties you mentioned and very scared about becoming the old in mind, i am gladdened by the fact that you and cool mom still feel that youth inside. it definitely changes the world around, how you look at it.
sometimes i feel really old because i jumped into a high school teaching position right out of college, so i have to find ways to force myself to not settle in that tiredness.
stay young. and cool.
melyssa – i am equally excited that you left us a comment! your blog and adventures look very fun.
glad to hear that we’ve allayed your fears about becoming old too fast. it won’t happen if you don’t let it.
It’s great to hear about being young at heart. I think our culture idolizes youth, but there are blessings in each stage of life. I would love to know who I’m going to spend the rest of my life with, and to be settled in one place instead of having uncertainty. There is excitement in the uncertainty, too. It’s all a tradeoff.
yes, the excitement is totally worth the uncertainty. it’s a fun ride!
I love this post! As my husband and I are in our twenties and about to have our second little one, I know how we already can feel in such a different stage than, as you put it, those young people still unmarried, etc with a youthful innocence! As I’m learning more and more though, we really have as much to learn from those who are pursuing godliness in their lives as they can perhaps learn from us and their energy can be contagious for us often tired parents!:)
S&E agree that CD and CM are most definitely fun people who talk about fun things and go fun places… it’s one of our favorite things about you! We echo your thoughts on youth and if “you’re only as old as you act” then it will be awhile before we’re old!
susanna – great point! not only does hanging with young ones feel good and cool, it can remind us to enjoy life as well!
elizabeth – thanks! being fun is so much more fun than being not