Recently I saw a meme on Facebook about dandelions. While I can't remember the exact wording it went something like this:
"Isn't it amazing how when we are kids we will pick dandelions and give them as bouquets to others because we think they are beautiful. I guess that is the difference in accepting something for what it is, not what it is supposed to be."
While I understand the sentiment behind the meme, I don't necessarily agree. I am assuming that the person who made it was trying to get people to remember when they were able to enjoy the small things because we weren't old enough to be jaded. However, when I read the meme all I could think about was how it was a good example of bliss in ignorance.
There are a lot of things that we find fun or enjoyable as children that become far less appealing as we grow older. It is a part of the maturing process to put away childish things as we become adults. That isn't to say that we should lose our sense of humor or our desire to have fun. It just means that what we find funny or enjoyable is probably going to change as we grow and mature.
One of the things that causes these changes in us, is knowledge. Of course a 4 year old girl would be very happy to receive a bouquet of dandelions. They don't know that those aren't actually a flower even if they do look pretty to the eye. Once that 4 year old is older and has the knowledge of what a dandelion really is, I doubt they would be thrilled to have their prom date give them a corsage made of dandelions. I imagine they would be rather upset, maybe even angry.
Knowledge gives us the ability to discern the difference between weeds and flowers, between the worthless and the priceless.
[Mat 13:44 NKJV] 44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
It would be a shame, if we were so taken with spiritual dandelions that we missed the real treasure hidden in the field. A hidden treasure requires an effort to be found. You will need to dig down below the surface where the dandelions grow in order to find it.
"Isn't it amazing how when we are kids we will pick dandelions and give them as bouquets to others because we think they are beautiful. I guess that is the difference in accepting something for what it is, not what it is supposed to be."
While I understand the sentiment behind the meme, I don't necessarily agree. I am assuming that the person who made it was trying to get people to remember when they were able to enjoy the small things because we weren't old enough to be jaded. However, when I read the meme all I could think about was how it was a good example of bliss in ignorance.
There are a lot of things that we find fun or enjoyable as children that become far less appealing as we grow older. It is a part of the maturing process to put away childish things as we become adults. That isn't to say that we should lose our sense of humor or our desire to have fun. It just means that what we find funny or enjoyable is probably going to change as we grow and mature.
One of the things that causes these changes in us, is knowledge. Of course a 4 year old girl would be very happy to receive a bouquet of dandelions. They don't know that those aren't actually a flower even if they do look pretty to the eye. Once that 4 year old is older and has the knowledge of what a dandelion really is, I doubt they would be thrilled to have their prom date give them a corsage made of dandelions. I imagine they would be rather upset, maybe even angry.
Knowledge gives us the ability to discern the difference between weeds and flowers, between the worthless and the priceless.
[Mat 13:44 NKJV] 44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
It would be a shame, if we were so taken with spiritual dandelions that we missed the real treasure hidden in the field. A hidden treasure requires an effort to be found. You will need to dig down below the surface where the dandelions grow in order to find it.
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