I am fortunate to work in a school district with a 4 day school week. When Thursday rolls around, I can hardly wait to get home to my family and my weekend. Sadly, when that weekend gets here though I am still so busy that I rarely take the time to "enjoy" it. My time is littered with obligations and not necessarily bad ones, but the fact is, they all take my time. It seems sad to me that I often feel like the only time I can really appreciate the simple things in life is when I "get away" from life. For me, getting away can mean a trip back home, a camping trip in the mountains, a glorious mountain hike, a simple hike at the lake or a once every seven years trip to a West coast beach. My appreciation for the simple things .... and perhaps better stated as the finer things in my life is usually most evident to me in these times when I am away. This is because I am "away".
My away times give me time to reflect on life and it's goodness and the little things that bring me joy. The laughter of my children, the puffy clouds in the bright, blue winter sky, the smell of springtime in the air, a ripe tomato in my garden, a baby bunny on my lawn, the changing seasons, watching quiet deer in a grassy field, the touch of my husband's hand on mine, the sound of my mom's voice on the phone, the jovial twinkle in my dad's eyes, time to pray, a cup of coffee with a friend, a hug, a secret shared, a calm summer evening, gentle conversations around a campfire, a snow-covered trail hike and this list could go on. Forever. It could go on. Importantly, these things do not cost me a single cent, but to ignore these things robs me of contentment, joy and comfort. I do not need the material things of this world to make me happy.
Tonight is the first night of my "weekend" even though it is Thursday evening. From the moment I left my school building this afternoon, I have been busy. A parent meeting at my daughter's high school, making dinner and clean-up, then phone calls to fill a schedule with volunteers for activities on Saturday at my church. My "busy"ness has made me crazy and stressed and searching for a moment of peace. As my evening is winding down, I have found myself kicked back in my chair trying to "de-program" myself from the constant flutter of activity, while still shuffling papers and making phone calls. My hubby and son headed to bed and my girls (teenaged, almost out of the house girls, sniffle, sniffle) decided they would go to a late night movie with some friends.
My girls were only gone from the house about five minutes when I receive a text from my youngest daughter. My heart of course sinks, thinking "Oh no! What happened?" I open the text to reveal something to me that is peace capturing! It reads, "Hey ma, the stars are beautiful tonight!" Wow! Do you know what that does to my heart? To my inner well-being? My quick response was, "Well that's because God made them." My sweet girl's response, "Haha, well duh ma, but they look like mountain stars."
MOUNTAIN STARS! So simple and I love it because that simple description took me right to a mountain top, looking at stars with my girl. I closed my eyes and I could see the stars. Then I walked outside and looked at those beautiful mountain stars. So crisp, so clear, so beautiful, so God-infused that I could not help but grin from ear to ear. I love that she wanted to share with me. A simple observation, a simple feeling, a simple appreciation she had. Simple things! Oh but to take the time to observe the simple things! I have found my peace tonight .... my happy place. I didn't have to go "away" to find it. I only had to be still and listen to the heart and the voice of teenage girl who loves her God and all that he has created as much as I do. Right now I feel renewed in spirit and in mind. I am at peace and it feels perfect.
Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will is-what is proper, pleasing, and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2
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