The Fun, Wonder of Summer–Hula Hoop Scoop

Every now and again embarrassingly I forget to enjoy some child-like fun. My most recent fun lesson, though, wasn’t from a child.

Mom and I were driving in the car when she proceeded to tell me that she spotted hula hoops in the Dollar Store the other day. She told me she had wondered if she could still hula hoop as well as she could years ago when I was a kid. Did she let her mind just wonder about the hula hoops? Oh, no, she didn’t.

She grabbed one of the hula hoops and tried it out–in the middle of the store! She told me she put down her big ol’ purse in the Dollar Store aisle, didn’t care who was watching her, and had a blast trying to hula hoop. Hilarious!!! We laughed until we (almost) wet our pants.

Good for her. Shame on me for taking myself too seriously sometimes.

A few days later, I was out shopping and spotted hula hoops. I did not drop my purse right there in the store and test one out, but I did purchase two hoops.  On my driveway at home,  I stepped into the bright yellow, plastic oval hoop, painted with fluorescent stars. I brought the hoop slowly to my waist, took a deep breath, stepped forward with my right foot, and spun the hoop to the right, causing the little beans inside the hoop to make their familiar, spinning sound (just hearing that sound made me smile). It lasted just a few rounds around my waist before it dropped to the ground. I giggled and picked the hoop up, trying again.  This time it spun long enough for me to even take a few steps, then fell. I snickered more.

By this time,  two of my fun, beautiful, hip grandmother neighbors walked by. I posed a challenge and handed each one a hula hoop. They laughed and stepped in the hoops without hesitation.  The hoops spun, then fell. We giggled. Fun is contagious!

Let’s intentionally play like children sometimes. It’s good for us, for our souls. Let’s hula hoop; build sand castles; sing karaoke; catch fireflies in Mason jars and let them go; blow bubbles; play frisbee; add your fun here ____________________________…

Reflect:

–What kind of child-like fun do you and your family have? Please comment.

–Who will you reach out to this week make fun contagious?

Renew: 

–“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'” –Matthew 18:1-4 NIV

–“May the God of hope fill you with JOY and peace.” –Romans 15:13 NIV

Recharge:

–Let’s humble ourselves and trust like children. What will you do differently to be more child-like?

Resource:

–Hula Hooping is also healthy for you. “Hooping improves core strength, tones your stomach, arms, thighs and behind, is a low-impact, high-energy workout that can burn approximately 400 – 600 calories in an hour.” http://www.hulahooping.com/hoop-fitness.html