Sometimes the highest education comes from the shortest folks. Children. No wonder Jesus said, “Let them come!”
Maggie, Kate and I arrived early at the North Shore Music Theatre, eager to see Mary Poppins live and on stage, all having watched the film more than once, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Tough acts to follow.
Kate kept her eyes searching the vast ceiling with all its lights and hidden technology. Suddenly Kate cried out, “I see her! I see Mary Poppins. I see her feet! She’s coming!”
People around us began to scan the nooks and crannies of the ceiling, the catwalks, hoping to glimpse Mary or her umbrella. Meanwhile, Kate bounced up and down, exclaiming and pointing, while the rest of us craned our necks, seeing nothing. Kate squealed on, positive she’d seen her feet. And all this before the musical began.
Once the show started, we travelled to London and the home of the Banks family and their need for a nanny.
George Banks, the father, wanted his children to have a stern nanny like his had been. When he underscored this with, “There was no time for hugs and kisses and all that sloppy nonsense!”, Kate shouted out, “That makes me so sad!” Smiles and nods all around us.
When Kate saw and heard the father’s former nanny, she yelled, “She’s a bully! She’s mean!” Children know.
In the poignant scene when an old woman sits outside Saint Paul’s Cathedral selling birdseed and singing,”Feed the Birds,” Jane and Michael Banks blurt out to Mary Poppins, “She’s poor!” “She’s in rags!” Mary says, “When will you learn to look past what you see!”
A wise challenge. There’s always more to the story of folks we think we know, or some issue to feel down and out about, but every now and then it’s good to look up, to catch a glimpse of feet, by faith. Believe that something wonderful’s about to happen, if we’ll fear not and dare to look past what we see and think we know.
Faith at work.
Children at play.
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So true!
What a precious gift for all of you to be able to do these things together. Your grandchildren will cherish these memories all of their days!
This is why we rent movies and take our grands miniature golfing!
Will Jesus come feet first?
Blessings, Dale
I once worked in a downtown public library where all kinds of people came in from shelters and on the street living. Some of them were mentally challenged and hygiene was not the best. I must admit, often used the Lysol spray when my brother or sister left the building. I have an 8 yer old grand-daughter who has the heart of Jesus. I’ve seen her run up to so called unappealing souls, give them the biggest hug and begin speaking kind words. We can learn so much from children by just watching them. “She looks past what she sees.”
P.S. Do not misunderstand. Leyla doesn’t run around and hug total strangers. She knows the ones who need Jesus’s touch.
That is a powerful message from a wise Mary…”when will you learn to look past what you see.”
It made me think of so many things today…the color we see….the judgements we make….made me feel thankful for kids that were schooled in a diverse environment where skin color holds no meaning, where income level is not a measurement for ability or IQ level, that being raised to know a loving God helps to stand for love when cruelty or hatred slithers in….when people who say they follow God forget what that means and judge….so thankful for YOU to share these stories with us. They remind me too to stay on the right course! XO