Joy Through the Eyes and Smile of a Child

Joy through the Eyes and Smile of a Child

A big beaming smile and large excited eyes with a wide mouth open with anticipation.  Despite the heat and humidity and occasional rain on most nights of the annual summer festival, I received payment for my services at the cotton candy, Italian ices, popcorn, ice cream and cold water booth from each child whose parent bought the first item.  My heart melts each time a child comes to the booth and becomes ever so excited when his or her parents says “Yes” to the request, usually accompanied by jumping up and down and a feverish voice.  Though my clothes are damp from perspiration in the intense heat and humidity; my arms are sticky because of the residual sugar; and my wrist tires from twisting the paper stick cone in rapid circular motions, I stand for hours and perpetually make the most aesthetically pleasing and visually appetizing bundle of cotton candy of which I am capable.  Each child’s beaming eyes and big, bright smile are my payment.

Life’s daily challenges often erode our childlike faith and joy.  Dealing with adult problems often result in cynicism and weariness.  As I become more jaded, I lose appreciation for beauty as it unfolds each day.  Easily, I pass the captivating scenery of nature’s canopy with its brilliant colors and fascinating brush strokes.  I take the smell of fresh roses for granted.  I become annoyed as I observe the marvelous unity and collaboration of army ants as they find food rather than stop and momentarily appreciate their wisdom and example.  The melodious voices of happy birds, bullfrogs and crickets combine to compose nature’s symphony and blend into the city’s cacophony of squealing buses, barreling trains and screeching car brakes. 

Actually, working at one of the booths of this annual carnival is an imposition.  Despite the perennial increases in tuition at my children’s parochial school, parental contracts stipulate a commitment of six of the eleven nights.  The dates of the festival seemingly coincide with the hottest and muggiest days each year.  Stepping outdoors, you immediately break into a sweat.  For four continuous hours, I stand at the cotton candy machine.  Long lines forms with anxious people who want a large wad of fluffy, machine spun sugar with food coloring to distract them from the heat.  Adults long for this treat as much as children.  Perhaps, like me, they digress to their childhood innocence when they did not have to budget their money or entertain any of life’s myriad worries.  Yet, I stand whirling paper cones in large metal bowls to create a magical treat.  Natural musk becomes my fragrance as I contemplate my to-do list and a nice, long, warm and hot shower which would ordinarily precede some fun activity at home on a usual summer night.

My digressions and frustrations immediately evaporate each time a child makes his or her way to the head of the line.  With enthusiastic body language, he or she essentially demands cotton candy from his or her parents who usually are powerless to resist such a genuine and solicitous plea.  I walk over to the counter.  Mimicking the child’s excitement, I ask if the cotton candy will be for him or her.  With a loud affirmative reply, I motion that I will make a big one just for him or her.  The child’s initial delight is the first half of my payment.  Though we collect money from the parents, it is really a meaningless part of this transaction.  The value of these sales exceed economic measurements whether micro or macro.  My benefit extends beyond the fulfillment of my contractual obligations as a parent with a child enrolled in the school.  The balance of my payment is given to me with the incredible and indescribable look of satisfaction and expectancy on each child’s face when I hand him or her a huge bundle of cotton candy.

The cumulative effects of my six nights of making and serving cotton candy are two enduring spiritual and practical lessons.  Once when teaching His disciples and a crowd of onlookers about the kingdom of God, the Lord Jesus Christ says unless a person receives the kingdom as a child he or she is fit to belong to it.  Ironically, like the teachers of the Laws, scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ era, many learned people will never enter the kingdom of God because they will not cultivate the childlike humility and trust in Almighty God.  An affirmative faith in the immortal existence, miraculous deeds on humankind’s behalf, and loving character of God as the Bible reveals does not require a doctorate degree.  The trust of each child awaiting cotton candy provided by the love and generosity of a parent reminds me of God’s unconditional and unfailing love for each of His seven billion children.  Second, the glee of excitement and expectancy that overwhelmed each child exhorts me to pause and be thankful for life’s many simple but significant joys such as a favorite color of cotton candy or flavor of ice cream.

Amazingly, this year’s six nights of sweat and labor rewarded me with joy through the eyes and smile of a child.