We took the kids to see the movie Madagascar yesterday. It wasn't the best animated movie I've ever seen, and maybe was less fun for the adults than some of the Pixar movies. But there was silly, slapstick comedy.
And the kids loved it. I don't think there's anything more authentic than hearing a 6 year old or an 8 year old laugh out loud at a movie. They weren't holding back, trying to be cool or cynical or anything. Just enjoying themselves watching animals do silly things on the screen.
At one point my older daughter leaned over to me and whispered, "Abba, this is just right for us."
It reminds me of the following saying by the Hassidic Rebbe, R' Simcha Bunim:
Three things can be learned from a child:
- The child is happy at just being alive.
- The child is always active and never bored.
- The child always cries for everything it needs.
So too we should serve God with joy, we should always be performing mitzvot, and we should implore God with tears for everything we need.
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