Inviting God Into Our Play

Devotional 16

“Mommy Playing.” Drawing by the author’s son, 2025. Gel crayon on graph paper. Collection of the author.

Recently I asked my son, “How do you invite God into your play?”

I don’t know why I asked him such a difficult question. We were standing in the kitchen, making breakfast. He sat on a high stool at the counter where we have books stacked for morning reading. But scattered around books - around the entire house, in fact - was the detritus of a thousand moments of play: an orange train engine nestled in a pile of Legos; craft paper folded into half-creations; blocks, blocks everywhere.

My question wasn’t something I had even thought about asking before that moment. But he answered without hesitation.

“I ask God to play choo-choos,” he told me.

And I was struck not just by his quick, confident answer, but by this image: a little boy with bed-rumpled hair, cheek and temple to the ground, intently watching train wheels connect with track and a God there, invited.

A God playing with him in the quiet sunshine and mystery that fills all homes everywhere. A God as Source of that play.

And a little boy, sighing and at ease, pushing the train along with Him.

***

It was not until I was a parent that I remembered the importance of playing again.

I didn’t intend to forget it, but like many adult things, work and its siblings - striving, and surviving, and doing-my-best - had edged out a real sense of wonder, silliness, non-productivity that true play embodies and nurtures.

Children are full of wild and unfettered energies they effortlessly channel into play, and watching my son play is often like being an extra in an action movie. I will be called in at any minute, usually for the crash scenes. If I hear Lucy, our old dog, barking a quick succession of warnings, it’s because our son has included her in some game she’s not too keen about. If he wants me to play, I better buckle up because I’m going to be sore tomorrow.

Blanket forts, shadow puppets, wrestling, hopscotch on the front sidewalk: they are all new again because I get to do them with a child. But I also have had to learn to be creative again and let go. Learn soccer. Fly a kite. Engage in building choo-choo towns (with my son as a stern engineer, proprietor, and urban developer). Having a child has reminded me to play again and to do it well.

But do I invite God into my play so easily?

Do you?

***