Update #7.1 - For Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

It's been far too long since I've interacted with children. A week, almost.

So when we started a game of chess with three middle-school sisters, it's no wonder things got out of hand. I'm normally a pretty energetic type. Put me with a group of children I've never met, fill me with lemonade, and I become like one of them. This is not always a good thing, but yesterday, I think it was for the best.

"Do you play chess?" I asked as Maddie walked by. "A little, but my sister is better."

"I'll play you!" her sister Emma chimed in. "Alright!" I exclaimed and cleared the board of the game Denny and I were playing (I was getting thoroughly destroyed, anyway).

As Emma sat down, the third sister showed up and pulled in a chair. As it happens, Maddie, Emma, and Jen were the daughters of the guy who ran our coffeeshop. The children didn't need to ask us any questions. To them, we were instant friends. - what wonderful people.

Before long, I was losing pieces like an old jigsaw puzzle. Emma's queen single-handedly took out half my army. Denny says I let her win. Really, I was just distracted by all the joy emanating from the children around us. They talked about mission trips they'd been on this summer, the new Abraham Lincoln penny that just came out today, summer reading, and whatever else came to mind.

Amid much laughter, we told them about our trip, about our job as youth leaders back home, and at one point the Halbroox Bros. production company. This is how it happened...

Emma: (moves queen and takes out another pawn)

"Now what are you gonna do?"

Alan: (after a look of horror)

"Hahaaaa! I think I'll do.....This!"

...at this moment several things happen. My rook moves into a trap, Emma shakes her head, and my arm takes my lemonade cup clean out...and straight into my lap. The little girls burst into laughter, and I can do nothing but join in.

If we weren't friends before, we definitely were now. Denny hopped up to get me some fresh clothes, and the kids joined in the clean-up-the-floor party. Before long, we were back at the chess game, and about the time Denny returned, my King had lost his head.

The shirt Michael brought was a Halbroox Bros. shirt, and after I had changed into it, Maddie saw me and asked, "Are you one of those people on the shirt?"

A remarkable little lad. Most people that even know my last name is "Halbrooks" don't make that connection. "Ha!" I said - "actually that one right there is me, and those are my brothers. We film movies, like our own version of the Lord of the Rings."

"You should do the Three Amigos!" ...wow...little did they know this was one of my favorite movies of all time. A moment later, the four of us were singing the Three Amigos theme song and saying things like "I'm Ned Needleander!" right out loud. The other customers must have thought I was a loon. I probably am a loon, but that's beside the point. The point is that children are grand. They're naturally observant, full of hope, and don't care to put you in a box.

After giving them a copy of The Little Prince and writing a note in the front cover, we left them as they were summoned home. I left there with a spring in my step. Re-energized and still laughing about the joy of life.

When Christ says "Let the little children come to me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," I can't help but think of their joy. The only reason some children have that much joy, you may tell me, is because they haven't been exposed to the evils of this world. But if we truly believe in God's love, in the hope and power of the Gospel, why should any exposure to the world keep us from experiencing the joy Christ has offered us?

"Because your love is better than life, O Lord," says the psalmist, "I will praise you."

~Alan T. Halbrooks