What does it mean to be a kid at heart?
There’s a special kind of magic kids carry, the kind that sees castles in clouds, turns puddles into oceans, and believes that tomorrow could bring anything. Somewhere between paying bills and updating passwords, that magic seems to slip through our fingers. Suddenly, life feels heavier, and laughter doesn’t come as easily. But being a kid at heart isn’t about acting immature or escaping responsibility. It’s about remembering what the world looked like before cynicism dimmed our eyes.
To be a kid at heart is to keep the door open, to wonder, to hope, to dream. It’s holding on to the belief that good things are still possible, even when life has handed us every reason to think otherwise. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3). That verse isn’t about reverting to naivety; it’s about returning to purity. It’s about faith that trusts, hearts that forgive easily, and eyes that still see beauty in the ordinary.
🌈 Rediscovering the Wonder
Let’s be real: adulthood can be a fun-sucker if we’re not careful. We learn to be “realistic,” which often means forgetting how to dream. But I’ve learned that keeping a childlike heart doesn’t mean ignoring life’s struggles; it means not letting those struggles harden you. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” That’s the trick right there: be grown, but stay curious. Pay the bills, sure but still jump in the waves.
Life will always throw curveballs, heartbreaks, and tax forms. Yet, even through it all, we can choose to keep the spark alive, the one that whispers, “There’s still more to discover.” King Solomon reminded us that “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). That longing, that curiosity, that longing for something beyond the ordinary, it’s divine DNA.
Soul Insights
on Staying a Kid at Heart
1. Joy is an act of rebellion.
Choosing joy when life feels heavy is radical. It’s like saying, “You can’t have my sparkle” to the world that keeps trying to dull it. Joy is not denial, it’s defiance. The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). So, when you laugh until your stomach hurts or dance in your kitchen with mismatched socks, you’re actually building spiritual muscle.
2. Wonder is oxygen for the soul.
When was the last time you looked up at the night sky and felt small in the best way? Wonder keeps us humble, grateful, and open. Albert Einstein once said, “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” The older we get, the easier it is to take life for granted but the moment we start noticing again, the world feels new.
3. Forgiveness keeps your heart soft.
Children forgive fast. They might argue one minute and share crayons the next. Adults? We rehearse grievances like greatest hits. Being a kid at heart means releasing bitterness before it roots. It’s not easy, but freedom rarely is. As Ephesians 4:32 reminds us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
4. Play is holy.
Somewhere along the way, we decided play was childish. But play invites creativity, rest, and laughter, all spiritual nutrients we desperately need. “It is a happy talent to know how to play,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson. Whether it’s painting, dancing, or making funny faces in the mirror, play reconnects us to God’s joy and to our truest selves.
5. Curiosity is the antidote to cynicism.
Adults love to say, “Been there, done that.” Kids say, “What’s that?” One shrinks the world; the other expands it. Curiosity is faith in motion, it keeps us open to new experiences, people, and perspectives. Jesus never told us to outgrow wonder. He told us to come as children, trusting, expecting, believing that love wins.
☀️ Final Thoughts
Being a kid at heart isn’t about escaping adulthood. It’s about enriching it. It’s the art of staying tender in a world that rewards toughness. It’s remembering that laughter heals, that clouds still form shapes, and that hope is not foolish; it’s faith dressed in innocence.
So maybe the invitation today isn’t to grow younger but to grow lighter. To let God untangle the knots of jadedness and restore what time tried to steal. As Walt Disney once said, “That’s the real trouble with the world. Too many people grow up.”
Let’s not be one of them.
💌 Call to Action
Take a few minutes today to do something purely for joy’s sake. Blow bubbles. Dance barefoot. Watch a cartoon. Draw something ridiculous. Whatever reminds you that your inner child is alive and kicking, go there. Because that childlike wonder? It’s your glimpse of heaven on earth.
By The Way…
While you’re here, please check out my book 17 Syllables of Me available on Amazon and my blog site SoulPath Insights.
Thank you for taking the time to read! 🤗
© 2025 Amelie Chambord
Soul Path Insights 
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