What comes to mind when you hear the word ordinary? I think of simple, common, unremarkable – business as usual in the everyday routine of life.
Nothing special.
Grass and weeds and flowers and trees grow and die. The sun shines or clouds shower us with rain. Seasons come and go. Dogs run around being curious, then lie on the porch panting loudly.
We get up each day, eat our meals, do our work, then go to bed only to rise the next morning and do it all over again.
Ordinary Life Goes On
When I see the same things every day, my eyes tend to pass right over them without a thought. I just expect them to be there. All the appliances are in the same place doing their jobs, except when they break.
Beds are in the bedrooms. Food is in the kitchen. Mugs hang below a shelf while various things have collected on top. Tiny teapots are on a small display cabinet. It’s the same every day.
What if we looked at ordinary with new eyes? What if with a closer look, we discover that ordinary can be quite extraordinary?
This delicate ceramic doll was a gift from my grandmother in 1966. I was 14 years old. Using ordinary materials like lace and a bed sheet she created the beautiful dress. It has survived through many moves with the only damage being a broken finger and loss of some of the lace.
I see this doll every day thinking nothing about it, but when I pause to look at it remembering my grandmother and the love she put into it, I find joy.
Take a Closer Look at Your Ordinary
By taking time for a closer look, I think we might find much to be thankful for. If we slow down and intentionally look for the beauty throughout our day, we just might be surprised at what we find.
I see these cross stitch pieces every day without a second thought. Taking a closer look I see the detail and remember all the hard work that went into sewing them. I only did one of them while my super talented mother did the others. Looking at them reminds me of her and her loving hands. Nothing ordinary about that.
We may get tired of seeing the same objects day after day, but there is a comfort in knowing that some things never change.
The sun rises daily with all kinds of possibilities awaiting us. As it goes down at night the moon comes out faithfully just as God has planned. It may seem ordinary, but is it really?
We can ask God to help us look for comfort and peace in the ordinary, to practice gratitude for the simple things, to be aware of opportunities to bless others. A smile goes a long way to bring light to someone which in turn brightens our day, too.
Let’s take our ordinary days and turn them into extraordinary ones!
I’m linking up with: #InspireMeMonday, #TrekkingThru, #TeaAndWord, #TellHisStory, #BVNetworkParty
*This post is an update from July, 2015, on my former blog.*
Yes! Running through life with my hair on fire sometimes, I need this reminder to slow down and to be thankful for all the ordinary blessings that are really quite extraordinary after all.
What a good description – “running through life with my hair on fire sometimes…” I can identify with that. 🙂 It really does help to slow down and look for the ordinary blessings. Thanks for visiting, Michele. Blessings to you!
I’m wondering about this too, Gayl. I’m feeling very ordinary myself. As I experience my first day of not going to work, I’m asking the Lord what is it I am supposed to see, hear, experience in this quiet place of ordinary life? Honestly, it feels quite empty, but maybe I’m just learning to slow down.
Thanks for your reminder to stop and ponder the ordinary things of life.
Bless you today with fond memories and beautiful surprises in the ordinary.
I guess it must feel pretty different not going to work after going for so long. I think whenever we stop something and change it can feel empty at first. We have to find different things to do, and sometimes we just need to stop and breathe for awhile. Blessings and love to you! xo
Hi, finally made it. My computer died like I said and I really struggled getting this post together with a new computer. It seemed like everything fought me from uploading pictures to formatting. I hope all is well with you today. Thanks for all that you do for our community.
It’s so hard when there are technical problems esp. when your computer quits! I’m glad you did get it all done even though it was a battle. I’m glad you persevered. Blessings and love to you, dear Mary. xo
Dear Gayl,
Wow,what a treasured gift from your Grandmother! And what sweet memories of cross-stitching with your Mom. I used to re-arrange things often, because I grew tired of the ordinary sameness. In this current season, though, my ability to re-arrange has been greatly diminished. But I am realizing how much I have missed by looking past the sameness also! There is a gift to be had in seeing God’s beauty in those places that remain the same. I wonder if God teaches us more about HIs steadfastness when we can slow down in our rushing and changing? Thank you so much for sharing these precious thoughts today! Blessings, love,and hugs to you my dear friend!
Yes, Bettie, I do count those as special gifts. Even though the people aren’t here with me, I have those memories. I think God does use those slowing down moments not only to teach us but to show us the gifts we are missing in our busyness. Thanks for your gift of encouragement to me. Blessings, love and hugs to you, dear sister! xoxo
Gayl- Thank you so much for choosing my post as your favorite for this weeks. YAY! I was so blessed to open my computer and find a message from you. Thank you so much. and yess! let’s look at ordinary through new eyes and see the extraordinary! Love it. Blessings on your Monday and the rest of the week too. 🙂
Debbie, thank you for sharing your encouraging words! Your post was such an inspiration. Blessings to you!
Grateful for so many ordinary reminders… just found a special one last week–a dresser scarf make by Grandma from circles cut from men’s shirts (circa 1930s) that had been worn and torn and re-purposed as a functional piece of art. A family treasure. <3 Blessings and love, Gayl.
Wow, what a special family treasure you found! That’s a blessing, isn’t it? And just think of the work that went into the repurposing process. Beautiful! Thanks for visiting, Bette. Blessings to you! xo
So many ordinary things surround me that are truly quite extraordinary. Thanks for encouraging me to open my eyes to them today, Gayl!
Thanks for visiting, Lisa. I think we all need reminders often to open our eyes to see the beauty in our ordinary, everyday lives. Blessings to you!
Gayl, hi! I love this invitation to cherish the every day, to see it as special and holy and worth valuing. How blessed we are, how grateful our hearts …
Thank you, Linda! I have to remind myself when I get too busy. I know I can use more gratitude in my life for the simple ordinary things we often take for granted. Blessings to you!
We have a theme going Gayl or maybe God does! You will enjoy my post Little Miss L.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Wow, God must be really trying to tell us to slow down and enjoy the ordinary. 🙂 I loved your post! Blessing to you!
To look at things, ordinary things, with new eyes is to see the extraordinary. Great thoughtful post, Gayl.
Yes, and I need to remind myself often to do that! Thanks so much for your encouragement, Susan. Blessings to you! xoxo
Thank you for this perspective. It is easy to overlook the things right in front of our face because they are always there – we take them for granted. But I love the call to take a closer look at the ordinary. I’m praying that I find something different in my usual look at the things around me.
It’s so easy to take things for granted, isn’t it, Mary? I need the reminder to slow down and look for the beauty. I hope you found something different today. Blessings to you! xo
Thank you so much, Gayl, for reminding us to see the beauty in the not-so ordinary! I definitely need this perspective today!
I need to be reminded often of this perspective, Christin! Thanks for your encouraging comment. Blessings to you!