Photo from Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/photos/activity-adventure-attractions-boat-3834883/
Here is part 2 of the lessons I learned from a mouse, or more wisdom from Disney World. Last week, lessons 1 & 2 were:
- They were united in the goal to make me feel special.
- They did their job as if it was the most important one.
Lesson 3 is one I needed then and still need today. I suspect I’m not the only adult who could use this reminder, “Don’t lose sight of the enjoyments of life.”
- They showed that it’s OK to have fun.
Phil. 2:2 “Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
On Day 1, yes, kids were antsy to enter but so were adults; many of them bouncing from foot to foot, already geared up with Mouseketeer ears, t-shirts, princess paraphernalia and lanyards filled with pins, waiting for the gates to open. Yeah, I may have been anxious, but I didn’t have any costume stuff on, not until later!
I grew up in a church environment that was not child-friendly; sometimes it wasn’t adult-friendly. Of 47 years in full-time ministry, I spent 25 years involved in youth ministry and summer camps. My primary goal was to teach Jesus. My secondary goal was to make church a place where children and teens wanted to come. And, if we could make it fun in the process that was even better.
Joy is contagious. Enjoying life, at any age, is a good thing. Bus drivers cracked jokes. Tour guides joked with workers and vice versa. Young and old alike were having fun, as they showed us it was OK to do serious work and still enjoy what they were doing.
- They placed a high value on children.
Matt. 18:3 “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Disney Parks are designed to make money (trust me, they do). They attract adults, but their focus is on children. Rides, attractions, Disney character meals, memorabilia and fast-paced action are geared for kids to have fun, not just in the here-and-now but the future. If joy can be planted in hearts and minds of the young, they will return as adults. I overheard several parents telling their kids about their trip(s) to Disney when they were young.
George Jones sang, ‘Who’s gonna fill their shoes?’, asking who will carry on in country music? It’s a legitimate question of any industry or organization. When George asked his question, many of the people who now fill those shoes were kids. Who are the future CEO and CFO leaders of all the businesses out there? We don’t know their names, but they are most likely kids right now.
When we have an opportunity to spend time with children let’s treat them well and interact with them. We never know the influence a little time might have on their future. On our trip, my oldest granddaughter sat at a table in an area where kids could do artwork. A lady who worked there walked over, sat down next to her, and began to color along with her; then she compared and complimented my granddaughter’s work. I thought, “Wow! That lady knows how to appeal to kids: Put yourself on their level, share in their activities, make them a peer, not a pest.
My granddaughter told me later her dream was to work at Disney World. That was over 20 years ago. She has not yet worked there but she’s been back 11 times!
“Gosh. Time sure flies when you’re didgey-tidge-eed.” —Mickey Mouse
Next week, lessons 5 & 6. And remember, you are greatly loved!
–Jackie Chesnutt, Chaplain and Emotional Support Coach for Myers-Davis (4/20/2026)
