Noticing a Life Worth Celebrating

Morning dew glistened on golden leaves. But, my eyes focused on nuggets of cereal determined to camp on my floor.

Sun-bathed tree tops begged to be noticed. Instead work, writing, and household tasks held my attention hostage.

Golden heads of tall grasses waved in the gentle breeze while wrens stilled their flitting just long enough for a moment of song. Yet endless duties and countless concerns commandeered my every thought.

Where was the joy? the thanksgiving? the living?

It is easy to get bogged down in daily activities. To become so focused on the “to do’s” of the moment that the blessings of life get buried or cast aside.

I repeatedly fall into this unhealthy habit. Duties are demanding. Concerns call loudly. In the flow of life, I often overlook or push aside the things that give clarity and meaning to life. 

Don’t get me wrong, my intentions are honorable. After all, someone has to arrange family transportation, help children with homework, make the home presentable, and provide meals for the household.

But in the “doing,” I too often fail to notice the field of plenty God provides. In the busyness, I lose sight of the grace drops raining down.

Life is much more than accomplishing a goal. It should be (and can be) exceedingly richer than simply achieving status or earning money or maintaining a sparkling house or gaining pats on the back for a job well done.

Living is about embracing the childhood wonder of an emerging butterfly. It is about curiosity, joy, and gratefulness. It is about putting others before self.

In a nutshell, true living begins with noticing blessings.

The seemingly insignificant, often forgotten gems, spawn a life worth celebrating.

So if you do nothing else today, begin a running list of things you are grateful for. They can be big or little, insignificant or prominent. The point is to intentionally look for the grace notes that dot your landscape each day.

Counting grace will become a habit. And it’ll make all the difference in your life. It has in mine.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1).

Share in the Discussion: Can you identify an effective strategy for noticing the grace notes in your life? Would you share in the comments one of the most insignificant items you happened to notice that made all the difference in a day? 

Linking with Ann Voskamp for my Joy Dare list (#1034–1055, read them all by clicking here) for Multitude Mondays:

• Mom & Dad coming to the rescue!; Stiff-arming Zach in football (playing w/ the boys); Cool weather energy of the dogs
• Hanging clothes out to dry; Rachel indicating herself when talking about Jesus’ forgiveness; Open windows in autumn
• Taking time to soak in the sun & let kittens run all over me; Clean windows (on the outside); Friends who’ll listen
• Kitchen & diningroom painted; Listening to David Phelps: that man can sing!; Being useful to my far away college son
• Laughing with Mom; Nap; Memories of dear old friends in my past
• Chaperoning marching band; Celebrating teens; Perfect night of musical shows under stadium lights
• Hubby home!; Lessons learned in loss; Welcoming home my super sweet friend and her family
• Power of gratitude