I took a photo on a recent walk. When I proudly showed it to one of my kids I said, “Isn’t Iowa beautiful?” The response? Eyeroll. “Mom–it’s thistles.”
Kinda hurt my feelings. Made me feel a little foolish, getting excited about something so…ordinary..
But the more I thought about it, the more I kept thinking about beauty. The beauty of those simple little thistles. And I think that actually some of the most beautiful things in life are very, very ordinary.
- Like the crayon creations that adorn your refrigerator
- Like the squeals of laughter coming from your kids’ bathtime
- Like the tenth reading of The Monster at the End of this Book
- Like wiping tears and saying, “It’s going to be alright”
- Like watching them soar with no training wheels
- Like when they finally understand multiplication
- Like the smell of coffee and pancakes on a Saturday morning
- Like bedtime prayers and singing “Jesus Loves Me” and hugs and kisses and tucking in
Life is beautiful. All these moments that make up normal, everyday, ordinary life. Those are the sweetest blessings worth counting and protecting and cherishing.
The Bible teaches us that each day is hand-crafted for us by God (Psalm 118:24). The Bible teaches us to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18)––in the daily, normal, ordinary circumstances that encapsulate the bulk of our lives. There is so much beauty and joy each day. I don’t want to feel silly for noticing it–even if it’s just growing in the ditches. I think this ordinary beauty is a profound gift from God.
Let’s notice. Let’s smile. Let’s give thanks.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
Cheers to ordinary things,
