OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE WONDER
You may think your ordinary days couldn’t possibly have anything to give cause for wonder. But I believe if we open our hearts to receive and keep our eyes and ears open, we might just find that wonder in plain, ordinary things. If we will slow down, be aware of our surroundings, we might discover all kinds of beauty and value.
FIND THE MAGIC IN ORDINARY DAYS
Open the windows
Open the door
Turn on the lights
Let colors fill the room
Red, yellow, green, orange and blue
Purple and pink and chartreuse, too
Open your eyes wide
Open your ears
Find the magic
In ordinary days
Hugs, smiles, trees, clouds, sun or rain
Laundry, dishes, walks down the lane
Feel the wind blowing
Soak up the sun
Gaze at the sky
Laugh, love and be happy
Run, skip, sing, pray, climb a tree
Imagine, speak truth and be free
~gayl wright
OPEN YOUR HEART TO WONDER EVEN IN STRESSFUL TIMES
Many of us are going through stressful times these days. Sometimes our circumstances are emotionally and physically demanding. Maybe we are exhausted and feel drained of energy. I hope my poem and photos encourage each of us to open our senses to all that is around and open our heart to the wonder.
I want us to notice the light and beauty even during the dark times.
Let’s not let our circumstances keep us from pursuing the deepest desires of our hearts. Maybe you are thinking that I can’t possibly know how hard it is for you, and you are right. Our lives are not the same, but we are not alone. None of us can automatically lift ourselves out of a slump, but there is One who has the power to do just that.
GOD CAN DO ANYTHING
In Mark 10, starting in verse 23, Jesus is telling his disciples how hard it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom. This baffles them and they wonder how anyone could be saved. Jesus tells them that it is impossible for man but not for God. Then in the last part of verse 27, he says, “…all things are possible with God.”
Did you get that? Nothing is impossible for God!
God loves His people, and He wants us to love and trust Him, no matter what the circumstances. He will be with us to lead us through the darkest times, to find and follow the light. We need to set our worries before Him and leave them there. In exchange He gives peace.
That’s exactly what I did this morning. With so many in my family being hit with hard things, I began to feel a bit of despair. Everything seemed overwhelming, and I wondered what I could do. It was time for me to get back to wrestling in prayer.
First I cleaned off the little table, lit a candle, and sat in my chair by the window. Then, I read some scripture and wrote out my prayer in a journal, literally pouring out my heart to God. I know that he heard my pleas and will answer according to His will.
Does that mean everything is okay now? No, not really. We’re dealing with some tough things in our family that aren’t going away any time soon. But I do have peace. I do trust God, and I will look for the light and the beauty, because it is there.
I want to go read the poem again and let it remind me to look for the light and the beauty in the ordinary things of every day. Maybe I’ll go out to watch the clouds and listen to the sounds of nature and open my heart to the wonder.
Won’t you join me?
I’m linking up with: #GiveMeGrace, #LMMLinkup, #inspirememonday, #TestimonyTuesday, #TellHisStory, #RaRaLinkup, #SittingAmongFriends, #CoffeeForYourHeart, #Glimpses, #ThoughtProvokingThursday, #Grace&Truth
Joining you in watching the clouds . . . just for a minute yesterday from an Adirondack chair on our country hill. Today it was an afternoon with the grand boy — sitting in the sand while he played with trucks and we listened to the crazy call of a pileated woodpecker somewhere in the bushes.
Love this documentation of your commitment to chasing beauty wherever you can find it.
I meant to go outside right after I wrote this bc I caught a glimpse out the front window and the clouds looked amazing! But I guess I got busy, so I’ll be sure to go out in the morning!
Your afternoon sounds so relaxing and fun. Grandchildren are precious! Hearing the woodpecker was a big plus. I love to sit out and just listen to all the bird and insect sounds.
Thanks for visiting, Michele. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Many blessings to you!
Gayl, Your poem and this post brought me such encouragement. Just before I did my blogging “duties” for the day, I had done my own devotional, Bible and prayer time where I poured my heart out about some difficult things in my own family situation, and for some big changes in the weeks ahead. I confess, I have been feeling very anxious lately. I couldn’t really pinpoint why I was, but I think tonight I realized what it is which is half the battle.
It was a comfort to be reminded that I share in struggles with brothers and sisters in the Lord and that I am not alone in my struggles with God, my ever present help.
The timeliness of me reading this post was an answer to prayer that I didn’t even realize I prayed.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Karen, I’m so glad you were encouraged. Sometimes I’m hesitant to actually hit publish, but I just know God means me to share it. Thank you for sharing some of your story. I’m glad you found what was causing the anxiety.
It is a comfort to know we are not alone. I will pray for God’s grace and peace to be showered on you and yours during the difficulties you face. He will be with you.
As far as the timing goes, I wanted to publish this earlier, but I just couldn’t seem to find the right way to end it. Maybe it just needed to wait so that it would be there right when you needed it. I love how God works and sometimes answers before we ever realize the need.
Many blessings to you, dear sister. xo
I love your poem! Just what I needed to read today too.
Thanks so much! Glad it met a need. 🙂
Have a wonderful week. Many blessings to you!
This seems to be a theme in blog posts I’m reading this morning. We’re all feeling it today! The burdens, and then, the faithfulness of God. Thank you for your poem.
Yes, I think many of us are having struggles. Giving them to Him is using lament as part of worship. Then we remember His goodness and know that He is always with us.
Blessings to you, Harmony! Thanks for stopping by.
Oh I love this, Gayl! It’s so good and you are so right! Opening our hearts and our eyes to the beauty all around us gives us the permission to slow and be present! Beautiful poem and photo’s, my friend! I am opening the door right now and basking in the scent and sound of rain!
Karrilee, thank you so much! Your words really encourage me.
I love the scent and sound of rain! Many blessings to you dear Karrilee!
What a great reminder to look for the beauty in challenges! I love the page from your art journal!
Thank you, Melissa! Nice to have you visit. 🙂 Glad you like the journal page. 🙂 Blessings!
Gayl, loved your poem. Yes indeed…so glad nothing is impossible with God. I’m your neighbor at the RaRa linkup this week.
Hi Tara! Glad you liked it! Thanks for visiting.
Yes, God is awesome. There is nothing impossible.
Blessings to you dear sister!
Those precious little bitty things, the mundane…all remind me of Brother Lawrence and “Practicing the Presence of God.” In all that we do and are, God wants our eyes and ears open to Him, the beauty all around us, the people He brings across our paths, the words of those calling out for help in a whisper or in words that do not sound like ‘help.’ God wants us to be present in the moments…all moments.
The poem is perfect, Gayl, for you bring to my mind so much that we take for granted yet is God.
Praising God for you this evening.
“God wants us to be present in the moments…all moments.” Yes, Linda, well said!
I’m glad you like the poem. I wanted to remind us of ordinary things and remember to be thankful.
Blessings to you, dear Linda! Your words have encouraged me this evening!
This gave a little push gayl that I needed. I need show more grace to myself and look at the things that God has blessed me with instead. He is faithful and He is working behind the scenes and He loves me. Rest in that. He has my back. Your family is blessed to have you as their mom, wife, and grandma. Hope you have a good rest of the week
Kristina, your comments are always so encouraging to me. Thank you! I think we all need to remember to show grace to ourselves. It’s so easy to just focus on the problems, but making that effort to find the good really helps.
Yes, He is working behind the scenes. There is so much we don’t see, but we can know He is there and He is faithful.
Many blessings to you dear sister! xo You have a good rest of the week, too.
This is my new quest in life, to open my eyes and heart to be beauty of ordinary days. Thank you for sharing over at Glimpses this week.
Barbie, this is an ongoing quest for me. I really want to remember to look for the beauty in all the ordinary things. I should start keeping a record of the beauty I find in the ordinary moments.
Thanks for visiting, Barbie. Many blessings to you!
It’s how we choose to live in the ordinary that makes all the difference – isn’t it! Ordinary is where the wait for an answered prayer is – and that is where we are shaped, molded and grow towards God. I love your heart in this. Praying that you find every blessing God leaves you in the ordinary daily as you face these challenges – and live in the wait of those prayers sent out!
~Maryleigh
Maryleigh, thank you so much for your encouraging words. Yes, how we choose really makes a difference. Sometimes I don’t make the right choice, but God always is there to show grace.
Thank you for your prayer and I pray the same for you. Many blessings to you! I hope you have a great weekend.
It sounds like we have similar coping mechanisms, Gayl! The Word, a prayer journal and time in nature to let God nurture me.
Yes, we do, Anita! 🙂 Being out in nature is so refreshing, and you realize how big God is and how small you are. That’s a good thing, because we are reminded that God is in control.
Blessings to you! Thanks for stopping by, Anita.
This was so inspiring and just what I needed today. Thank you so much.
Mary, thank you for stopping by. I’m so glad you were inspired and encouraged!
Many blessings to you!