Celebrate the Simple

In the rush of everyday living, I wonder how many times I passed by a really wonderful moment, without even a glance in its direction. When I taught school, most days were spent in hurrying; I had to get to school by a set time, the day was segmented into areas of learning; one thing had to be covered before moving on to another. Children are not that way. Maybe it’s because they are a lot shorter and closer to the earth that they notice an interesting insect, an unusual rock. Or, maybe it’s because they are so newly come from the hand of God that they still retain the wonder of the world around them.

Now that I’m quite a bit older and no longer live by a set schedule, I am amazed at the beauty and really fun stuff around me. My grandchildren constantly amaze me with the forthright things they say. The way they view life is fresh and honest. Last night, Nathan told me he really liked my meatloaf. He said, “I mean really, really, badly like it; terribly badly like it.” That’s one of the best compliments I’ve ever gotten.

Now that spring is here, I’m out in the yard a lot, taking care of my flowers. Each petal is different. Each plant, each bloom is unique. I believe that God put everything on earth that we would need. Herbs are here for healing as well as fragrance. I’m not sure of all the healing powers of herbs but I admire their fragrance and I do like a good cup of mint tea!

Sometimes I think many of society’s problems are due to the frantic pace in which we live. We hurry, we run, we meet deadlines, and we don’t notice the God-given beauty around us. Today, I want to savor the moments. This day will never happen again. Petals drop off flowers, the bumble bees buzz on to different places, the fresh green of the grass begins to dim. Today, while I can, I want to look, listen, and thank the Lord for his gifts.

“Joys come from simple and natural things;

mists over meadows,

sunlight on leaves,

the path of the moon over water.”

–Sigurd F. Olson