“Nancy, come here!” Tabbitha called, as she poked her head through the door of my classroom. Tabbitha taught across the hall from me. It was still early morning, and students hadn’t begun to arrive yet.
“I want to show you something!” she beckoned. Tabbitha’s smile and sparkling eyes gave me a hint that, whatever her surprise, it was going to be good.
Quickly she led me out of the school building and back towards the parking lot. She stopped at a row of low, scraggly bushes that grew along the sidewalk.
“Look!” Tabbitha cried, pointing down at one of the bushes.
I looked but saw nothing. “What am I supposed to see?”
“Right here,” she said, and moved her finger closer to the object.
My eyes finally focused on what she saw: a shriveled brown pouch adhered to a branch. A chrysalis.
I couldn’t remember ever seeing one in the wild before, only in a butterfly habitat.
We studied the chrysalis closely, marveled at the miracle within, and wondered whether the end result would be a butterfly or moth.
“Actually, I have to tell you. I didn’t spot the cocoon,” Tabbitha confessed. “Brooke did.”
Of course. Tabbitha’s daughter, Brooke, was four years old at the time–closer to the ground to notice such details as an odd protrusion on a low stem. But Brooke was also an observer. Her little eyes and ears didn’t miss much, and her mind was always active—learning, wondering, connecting,
As for me, I hardly even noticed there were bushes along that sidewalk, much less a miracle taking place among them. My mind was always busy with the to-do list, lesson plans, students needing special attention that day, the emails to be answered, the meeting after school, etc., etc.
Little Brooke taught me a lesson that morning: Pay attention!
God is revealing himself to me every day—his creative genius, his loving care, and his wisdom. He arranges little serendipity gifts for me to discover. My challenge is to be watchful.
The blessings are there, the joy available–not just in grand rainbows and sunsets that grab my attention, but in the sheen on rain-washed leaves or in the mesmerizing flicker of a candle flame.
Joy is not the result of happy events, a collection of lovely things, or even near-perfect relationships with family and friends. Joy is experienced in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11). And when God and I together enjoy his creation, his people or his engineering of events, the joy becomes rapturous.
However! I have been a slow student to learn the habit of attentive living. I’m still developing a praise-frame of mind.
But when I pause long enough to enjoy a cocoon on a stem, a group of children on a playground, or the smile on the face of a friend, I want to extend that pause into a prayer:
Oh, God, thank you for lavishing gifts of love upon me each day. Thank you for filling me with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:11), all day long, now and forever. Yet there is more! Thank you that, as I celebrate these blessings together with you, my joy is expanded even further. Help me to become attentive like little Brooke. And perhaps, as I express my contentment in you and in all your gifts, your heart will be filled with joy as well.
(photo credits: www.princetonaturenotes.blogspot.com; http://www.discovermagazine.com; http://www.brantfordfire.ca.)
From the Inside Out 
amazing what happens when we just look around! I have been enjoying Summer mornings and long runs around my neighborhood and community, since I retired and now work in the schools.
God is clearly seen in His Creations majesty and symmetry!
Oh, yes — majesty and symmetry, color and pattern, intricacy and beauty, organization and variety…the marvels of his works are truly endless!
Thank you for stopping by and taking time to comment.
God at Play !
You’re right! I never thought of it that way! Thank you for your fresh insight.
And thank you, too, dear God, for special friends you put in our paths, people like Nancy.
Oh, Grace, you are such a loving friend! God bless YOU for your kindness.
What a great reminder and lovely prayer. I think paying attention is a key spiritual practice and one i need to do more of. Thanks Nancy
You’re welcome, Jean. We’ll strive together to pay better attention. The benefits will be worth it!
“Joy is not the result of happy events, a collection of lovely things, or even having near-perfect relationships with family and friends. Joy is experienced in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11). And when God and I together enjoy his creation, his people or his engineering of events, the joy becomes rapturous.”
I’ve written this down, Nancy. It is so beautiful, and I shall keep it as a reminder. Lovely, lovely words!
Consider them a gift from God, because they were! Thank you, Rebeca, for being a loyal reader and your encouraging comments.
God provides us with so many small gifts that often we miss them because we always are looking at the Big Picture. God must laugh at us for missing so much because we have or think we have so little time.
Oh, I like the sound of that–giving God a reason to chuckle. So much better than causing him to shake his head in disapproval! He provided twenty-four hours a day for a reason didn’t he–it was just enough. Thank you, Loraine, for your insights!
All the wonders of God’s gifts of creation. I need to remember to look and be still, I will never know what I might see. Thank you Nancy.
Yes, remembering to look and be still–with expectancy–will surely result in many precious gifts to enjoy!
Thanks, Nancy, for pointing out that the JOY is out there waiting from me to notice…from the small as well as the large creations of our Lord. I, too, need to put myself on ‘pause’ instead of racing through my day.
You’re welcome, Cheri. Your visual of “put myself on ‘pause'” is very helpful! That’s exactly what I need to do, frequently throughout the day.