Thanksgiving is now in the record books for 2017 and time marches on bringing us closer to Christmas. Decorations are beginning to emerge and take their places on lawns, homes, and windows which reminded me of a precious walk in a year past. Allow me to bring you back …
We had been experiencing very springlike temperatures and took our familiar route – Mom, Sophia (then just 3), and myself, pushing the car buggy with Sophia tucked inside.
Three generations.
Our goal that morning was to get to a Christmas display my mom had discovered when out walking with my dad. From mom’s description, I was expecting the tacky, over-inflated figures which had taken over many yards.
But that day was so different.
Sophia was enthralled with what she saw as we pushed her little buggy, finally arriving at the house. At first, she quietly took it all in, and then asked if she could get out of the buggy. She began to inch up, closer and closer to the display. She named each one, describing what they were doing. Closer and closer. Eyes wide open, joy all over her little face. She asked if she could hug Snoopy or the penguins or Lucy or Rudolph. She loved their movement.
After a while, I told her it was time to continue our walk. She asked, āJust a few more minutes, Mimi?āĀĆĀ And a few more minutes it was. When walking away, she asked, āCan we come back tomorrow?āĀ
Wonder. Awe. Appreciation.
All a gift.
The familiar, those things which we have known and experienced before, can surely rob us. They can deny us of the wonder, the awe, the gift ever before us.
If we are going to appreciate what is before us, it is going to be because we deliberately choose and pursue the wonder.
It can so be that way as we approach Godās Word. We skim over a passage because we know the story, know the outcome, know what a passage says. But if we do a cursory reading, we will miss the wonder. Today I am praying:
āOpen my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your lawāĀĆĀ (Psalm 119:18 NIV).
The inflatable display no longer seemed tacky. Somehow, through Sophiaās eyes, it became a precious display of the wonder life has to offer every single day.
Choose and pursue the Wonder.
Today I am joining … #DreamTogether and Moments of Hope and Inspire Me Monday and Glimpses .
We all can use a little more childlike wonder in our hearts! I enjoyed some of that kind of wonder on a walk this weekend as the sunlight glittered in the gold and red leaves of autumn, the beauty truly took my breath away. It felt like God was delighting me with the wonder of His creation.
Kathy, it is so true. God does look to delight us as He enables us to stand in wonder and awe of Him. Amazing to think on the lengths He goes to draw us to Himself!
Visited your post this morning but could not see where to leave a comment. I am so grateful God has created us all so uniquely and calls us to be unique. May we never forget His is a personal call to each of us. And … thank you for sharing the cookie recipe š
Have a happy Monday and start to your week!
Kids bring such joy to our lives because they strip away our cynicism and see the world anew.
Helene, so true! We need help stripping away all that will hold us back. May God surprise us each with wonder today!
Children have a way of reminding us of the true wonder, don’t they? They slow us down and help us see things in a new way if we let them. Thank you for sharing this glimpse of wonder. It will help me look at Christmas decorations with fresh eyes.
Debbie, may we become like little children š xo
Oh, this is so sweet! It all depends on whose eyes we are seeing things. May I be more intentional with this beautiful truth, Joanne: “deliberately choose and pursue the wonder.”
May we see through His eyes in this coming season!
If we are going to appreciate what is before us, it is going to be because we deliberately choose and pursue the wonder.
Thank you for this truth. How often do I put aside my preconceived notions of something and look at it through someone else’s eyes or a different perspective?
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Mary, you made me raise the question … how often have my own preconceived notions been wrong? May we see things through His eyes and experience the wonder.
One of the things I love about teaching is my opportunity to re-view the world through the fresh eyes of my students. Things I take for granted are new and delightful experiences. Things I do easily, they work hard at – it keeps things in perspective. I love your prayer, that our eyes be open to see the new and the beautiful!
There’s nothing like a fresh look at life through the eyes of a child!
Dear Joanne, what a beautiful reminder! “Choose & Pursue the Wonder!” I need to paste that around my house. Prayers and blessings for a season filled with wonder!
I want to see the world through a child’s eyes. I love your challenge to “choose & pursue wonder”. Blessings!