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| Sunrise out my kitchen window. |
I think I'm like most people in that I get involved in the details of my everyday life and forget to notice and be thankful for what surrounds me. This was never made more evident to me than a few years ago.
It was early morning and I was standing with several other parents waiting for everyone to show up for a Boy Scout camping trip. I was not in a good mood. The boys, who we could barely wake up a short time ago, were running around pestering each other. It was early enough that it was still dark out and it was cold. I was grumbling to another mom about how cold and sleepy I was when another dad, Tom, joined our conversation. I made some comment about the weather and he responded. "Isn't the cold invigorating. And look at the sky, the sun is rising. It's another day and I always think, 'How beautiful. God has created another beautiful day and he is actually letting me be a part of it."" Wow. That woke me up. Both literally and figuratively.
Since them, I try to remember that morning and what Tom said. I am lucky that I get to be a part of another day. It is easier to do that when I am witnessing a beautiful vista on a warm spring afternoon, but I also try to remember it on the mornings when I've had to get up sooner than I want and it is yet another cold, rainy morning. And since everything reminds me of a song...
For the beauty of the earth; (first two verses)
For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.
For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our joyful hymn of praise.
There is so much beauty around me, I also forget to notice sometimes. Thanks for visiting my blog and your cats look wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMy cats are wonderful--most of the time. Sometimes they can get a little demanding as you know.
DeleteI love the quote you used. I think I might have to write myself a reminder to offer thanks each morning for being allowed to be a part of each day. Like everyone, sometimes I get caught up in the struggle of a day rather than the miracle of just being.
ReplyDeleteSome mornings when I am at the lake I find myself singing the song!
It's the "letting me a part of each day," that spoke to me also. I sing a lot (much to annoyance of those around me sometimes) and that song comes up often.
DeleteI think we're all guilty of taking nature around us for granted. Thanks for the reminder :)
ReplyDeleteNo matter how much I try to notice nature around me, I still need a reminder now and then. This post is my reminder for today.
DeleteI always feel better when I put the day into perspective. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. It's so easy to get involved with things that aren't so important in the long run. I need a reminder to step out and look at the big picture sometimes.
DeleteLeave it to that one lone person to ruin a good sulk. :-) I am constantly amazed by how one little word or action by a stranger can change our outlook. I don't know how you get such a lovely photo from a window but I like it!
ReplyDeleteYeah, he "ruined" my good sulk. :)
DeleteWhat a beautiful post! I'm gonna strive to remember this next time Princess wakes me up at some ungodly hour (which will probably be about 6 hours from now!)
ReplyDeleteIt's a cold, rainy morning and Lucky woke me up sooner than I wanted. I've got my work cut out for me this morning in the positive department, but I'm trying to remember Tom.
Deletewonderful post. I am trying to make it a habit to have more balance in my life and that includes taking note of my surroundings. It slows me down a bit.
ReplyDeletePam
Or as it has been said, "The present is the present." Meaning the present is all we've got, so we should take time to appreciate it. As I've said, it's still a work in progress for me.
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