By Haley Majernik
“I want to see a giraffe eating a leaf!”
That was my 5-year-old’s animated response when I asked what he was most looking forward to on our upcoming trip to the zoo. We were planning a small road trip to Omaha with close friends—another family with kids the same age as ours—and as soon as my son shared his leaf-eating giraffe wish, we all jumped on board. His one, specific hope suddenly became everyone’s shared mission.
When we arrived at the zoo, we began our animal adventure. Tigers. Lions. Birds. Gorillas. Lemurs. Antelope. With each stop, our excitement grew as we moved closer to the giraffe exhibit. Would his oddly specific wish actually come true?
Along the way, we were treated to a parade of delightful surprises: a peacock fanning its brilliantly colored feathers, a sleepy tiger stretching wide in a huge yawn. Each moment sparked curiosity and joy. Still, the giraffes awaited.
Finally, near the end of our visit, we arrived at the Giraffe Complex—and there it was: a giraffe, munching leaves reaching into the trees. Mission accomplished! We laughed, we cheered, and we snapped a photo to mark the moment. We were filled with wonder.
Webster’s Dictionary defines wonder as “a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.” Wonder pulls us in—it invites us to pause, notice, and delight. Children live in this space naturally. But as adults, it’s easy to lose sight of wonder. For adults, responsibilities, routines, and daily demands often crowd it out.
What if we took time to wonder? What if we stopped running around and made time in our busy schedules to pay attention to what was right in front of us and admire what we see? What if we were more open to receiving the gifts our children so naturally give us?
I believe we are called to live this way. In Mark 10:15, Jesus tells us that we are to receive the kingdom of God like a child- with eagerness, with trust, with dependence, and humility. Could we take one small step to watch for what God might do today? Might we pause and notice God’s presence and embrace the present moment? Our children can easily lead the way for us in this.
At Youthfront, we long for parents and caregivers to rediscover the wonder of learning from their children—and the sacred gift of being present with God and with one another. That’s why we created As You Go—a website designed to support you in staying curious and connected with your child in the ordinary moments of everyday life and as you go to local places around town.
As You Go offers simple, meaningful prompts to spark faith-forming conversations during daily routines and local adventures. It’s not about adding more to your to-do list—it’s about noticing God in what’s already happening.
Our hope is that as you follow your child’s lead in curiosity and wonder, you’ll experience God’s goodness together. As You Go is more than a resource—it’s a way of life that makes space for God to meet you, right where you are. It is not a checklist to complete or a fancy Instagram post. It is not being perfect and following our suggestions to a T. It is a posture where you allow yourself to be open to God and listen to God’s voice together as a family.
Before diving into our As You Go website, here are some helpful tips:
- Remember, we don’t have to know everything—leave that to God! Think of yourself as a guide, like a trail guide who points out things but also encourages discovery. It’s a chance to learn and explore together. Or let your child be the guide. Often listening to your child and following his/her lead is the best way forward.
- Keep expectations realistic. We’re all human and imperfect. Expect some tantrums (from kids or adults —ha!), moments of fatigue or hunger, and consider your child’s age. Research shows children have varying attention spans. One idea is to multiply the age of your child times two as you think about your child’s capacity for attention in terms of minutes (and know that you might need to pivot after 1-2 minutes depending on the day – we encourage you to be gentle with yourself and your children and try again another day).
- Prayer matters. Receiving the kingdom of God as children is to remember that we are dependent on God. With God’s guidance and help, we can grow together in our love of God.
So, here’s your invitation: Stay curious. Look around. Slow down. Follow your child’s lead. Allow yourself to be surprised. God is with you As You Go every step of the way.
About Haley Majernik: Haley serves as Coordinator of Children’s Ministry at Youthfront, working closely with Youthfront’s programs for elementary children and with local churches and children’s/family pastors. She also leads key projects for Youthfront’s Strengthening Ministry with Children initiatives. Haley and her husband are parents to two teenage boys.
