There was a TV show once called, “Kids Say the Darndest Things.”  Sometimes, kids also say the most profound things.  On a recent Friday afternoon, I heard three profound things come out of the mouth of children. 

Profound Thing #1
It was about a zillion degrees outside in central Arizona, so my family and I went to a community pool to cool off.   My son, his friend Jon and I were having a great time tossing around a water football.  Soon, a young boy who had been watching us, swam over and asked “Can I play?” 

I don’t know whether it was the sincerity of his request or his engaging little smile – but it occurred to me his question had more than one meaning.  I knew that he meant, “Will you allow me to play?” so I replied “Sure!”  But as I watched Josh play catch, I found myself hoping that he had someone in his life who would answer his question “Can I play” by affirming him and by helping him understand that he could play anything he wanted to. 

Profound Thing #2
After I tired of being the “Monkey in the middle,” I swam to the side of the pool to rest.  Out of the blue, a little girl – whose name we later found out was Zoe - swam up to me and said, “Hey, you wanna see what I can do?”  I said “Absolutely, what can you do?”  She proceeded to do a handstand under water.  Her first attempt wasn’t that good nor was her second, nor her third.  But I applauded her effort anyway.  After her third attempt she said, “Sometimes I mess up but that’s okay.”  And it was okay. 

Profound Thing #3
After also demonstrating a flawless under water somersault, Zoe asked me, “What tricks can you do?”  Not to be out done, I demonstrated my best under water handstand, which was not that good either!  Zoe paused for a moment and said, “You keep working on it and you’ll get it!”  I felt encouraged and amused at the same time.  But guess what… I kept working on it and I did get it!

Summarizing what I learned.

Can I play?

Sometimes I mess up but that’s okay.

Cause if I keep working on it, I’ll get it someday.