When my kids were younger, I read them a bedtime story from Robert Lopshire called, Put Me In The Zoo.
It’s about this big gangly creature who wants to live in the zoo. Unfortunately, the zoo keepers aren’t keen on him. But a couple of kids take notice of him, and he begins to do all kinds of tricks for them. He gets their applause, admiration, and approval.
Then he asks them, “Tell me. Tell me, now, you two. Will they put me in the zoo?”
As he asks that question, I can’t help but think of the millions (if not billions) of people that are asking that question every day. I’ve been one of them too. We just ask it in a different way.
We ask,
- Will they pick me for their team?
- Will they place me on their staff?
- Will they give me that position / title?
- Will they invite me to their party?
- Will they like my post?
- Will they follow me on Instagram?
- Will they re-tweet my stuff?
- Will they buy what I’m selling?
- Will they…
You fill in the blank.
We’re all looking for the exact same applause, admiration, and approval.
It’s a kids’ book, but it is a lesson for parents too.
We’re all looking for “our place” in life.
As for the creature who wanted to live in the zoo, the kids responded to his question perfectly:
“We like all the things you do. We like your spots, we like you, too. But you should not be in the zoo. No. You should NOT be in the zoo. With all the things that you can do, the circus is the place for you.”
Are you looking to be placed in the zoo when you should be performing in the circus?
Omer Redden 