Enthusiasm is Contagious! Be a Carrier!

Chuck E Cheese goes way back in our family. It started with my two kids and has continued through the decades with the grandkids — and still now, with the youngest, 10 year-old Bryson. He needs his “fix” every time Nana comes into town. Older brother stopped going last year because, you know….”Chuck E is just for little kids!”

In December, when I came down to Austin, we ventured out to find a Chuck E Cheese. It took us 1-1/2 hours to get to it in the evening traffic, but we were rewarded for our drive because, on a Wednesday night, Bryson, myself and one other family were the only ones there. Bryson thought he was in heaven because Chuck E would come out every hour and encourage dancing and then he’d throw out a boatload of tickets. Bryson made a haul that night — not to mention, because it was his birthday (I’m on Chuck E Cheese’s mailing list), he got lots more free tickets. He played and played to his heart’s content. In fact, we were the last ones there at 9 pm, when the doors closed. When we got home, he couldn’t stop talking about the fun night we had. Big brother, 12-years-old Brennan, heard all the praises and I could see in his eyes that he wished he had gone with us. By the way, it only took us 20 minutes to get back home. Timing is everything.

Fast forward to this last Thursday night. Bryson has been relentless in wanting to go back to Chuck E Cheese before I leave for Frisco next week, so we headed out for another Chuck E adventure. Remember, Bryson’s enthusiasm when we last went there? His enthusiasm was so contagious, that this time, BIG brother was not going to miss out on the fun, so he joined us. And fun they had! We arrived at 4:15 and left at 7:15. Three hours of non-stop fun, except for the pizza, which Brennan admitted “This is my favorite pizza — I love the crust!” Brennan broke the record on the basketball throw machine, plus so much fun on all the other machines. The first time Chuck E came out….Brennan was not about to dance with Bryson and the other “little” kids and capture all those tickets that were blown out. Next time around, however, Brennan announced, “Nana, get your camera ready! This is the only time you’re going to get me dancing with Chuck E. He did AND he even chased Chuck E down to get a photo with him. Both boys, yesterday, were trying to convince me to take them back again. My reply was “Next time!”

I shared this Chuck E Cheese saga, to reiterate what I shared yesterday, “Never postpone joy” to all of us — young AND old. Oftentimes we think “acting our age” is to skip the kids’ games, the kids’ lines, the kids’ fun — because we’ve passed that age. We’re big kids now and big kids act differently. NOT! You can count me OUT on that attitude. Bryson’s enthusiasm was contagious. What if our enthusiasm for joy, laughter and fun was contagious to those around us? Wouldn’t they want to join us for the thrills we’re enjoying AT OUR AGE? Like Brennan, he had no idea the fun he was missing until he heard and saw “a kid’s” expression of joy. Maybe it’s time to follow the Master’s lead and become like little children again!

Matthew 18:2-4 “Calling a little child forward, He had him stand among them. Then he said, “I tell all of you with certainty, unless you change and become like little children, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”