One of a parents‚Äô greatest joys on Christmas morning is watching their children open up their presents. The most ‚Äúexcited‚Äù age group tends to be that which lies between the toddler and teen years, when a child’s glee over gifts seems to be at its zenith. The air is filled with laughter as girls play with their new dolls and boys conquer the universe with their action figures. Many games and adventures are enjoyed by our children as they utilize one of God‚Äôs greatest gifts–imagination.
About thirty years ago, when my siblings and I were caught up in our own imaginary world, my father took notice of our fanciful fun and wrote a poem about it. In essence, Dad’s poem reminds us of the role that imagination plays and the importance of keeping it in its proper place. The poem is entitled “Make Believe.” I’ve thought of this poem many times over the years while watching my own kids play in their little world of “let’s pretend.” I hope that you, too, will enjoy the poem and take its message to heart.
I often watch my children play,
And how amazed am I that they
Are occupied for hours on end
With games that start with “Let’s pretend.”
They play at “house”, they play at “store”;
They play at “school”, they play at “war”.
They play at “cops and robbers”, too;
There’s nothing little minds can’t do.
Yes, “let’s pretend” contributes joy
To every little girl and boy;
And drab and dull would childhood be,
If it were not for fantasy.
The thought that weighs upon my mind
Is: Some don’t leave those years behind.
Concerning things “beyond the veil”,
They still let fantasy prevail.
They make believe there is no hell;
They make believe their souls are well;
They reason, under false pretense,
That works will be their sure defense.
Behold, the final, fearful end
Of those, like babes, who still pretend!
For in eternal things, you see,
There is no room for fantasy.
For fantasy oft times conflicts
With that which God on high edicts;
And fiction from the days of youth
Must not displace the written truth.
Because the Bible doth reveal
That mankind’s need for Christ is real.
Imagination has a role,
But not in matters of the soul.
And what of you, good Christian friend?
Do you serve God, or just pretend?
Do you the Holy Spirit grieve,
By service only “make believe”?
Most timely and pertinent, Pastor Matt, especially at a time when men’s soul-saving has been replaced with planet-saving. Thanks for the posting.
What an awesome poem! Your dad did a great job making this observation, and putting it into words that paint such an easy to relate to association.
robjbee brings up another point that Casting Crowns also put into words in their song they wrote titled “While You Were Sleeping‚Äù. There are some lines about our country that are: “As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children”
I pray the Holy Spirit will use this poem, and the words from this song, to motivate change in people.
God Bless,
LouP.