I want to take a moment to highlight the little things. The tiny things that get overlooked, pushed aside and dismissed constantly with the loud and boisterous demands of the world around us.
Everything fights for our time, our money, our energy, our attention. We have bills to pay, deadlines, homework, housework, car repairs, home repairs, meetings, don’t forget social media, that’s a huge one that demands our attention.
I imagine all of these loud things in a whirlwind bombarding our thoughts as we stand alone in the middle of the cyclone. Are we able to move? Can we escape this rat race of a nightmare? Or are we slaves to what all these voices in the world tell us to do? What to wear? How to think?
Instead of struggling to make sense of the chaos, by looking through the storm and trying to balance everything we’re “supposed” to be… Remember that in the center of every tornado, the eye of the storm is perfectly calm. Perfect peace.
This is where the little things shine. In that stillness, right in the center of the storm, that moment when we’re trying to brace ourselves as we hold our breath… When everything seems to be completely falling apart around us. Within the tiny things, lie great power.
The inner strength to break free from the chains of the world lie in the light of the little things.
The light that shines during those tiny precious moments is what frees us from the chaos of the world. Things like, my daughter’s laugh when she can’t get enough funny bird videos and the short stemmed daisy my little one picked from our neighbor’s garden for me.
The fill-in-the blank Mother’s Day card made at school by my kindergartner, that says, “I love my mom, she’s my best friend.”
The way time seems to stop, as I watch my babies sleeping, as I reflect on how much they’ve grown and how much they’ve learned so far.
The smell of their sweet breath when I hug them tight, and the sight of how small their hands are in mine.
Watching my child struggle through the bombardment of negative voices of the world… and then being there during the precious moment when she finally understands just how much she is deeply and truly loved…
Then with her revived passion, listening to her beautiful voice again as it touches the hearts of everyone in the room.
The butterfly that came close enough that I was able to hear its fluttering wings after a time of loneliness, and striving for a glimmer of hope.
Meeting a perfect stranger on the street, and immediately experience a life-long connection, because they happened to say the exact thing you needed to hear at just the right moment.
The rejuvenating smell of a crisp fall morning walking past field of freshly cut hay bales covered in dew.
The warm sunrise that beams over the mountain ridge and through the forest canopy to light up the book I’m reading precisely at the perfect moment. Then having the sudden clarity of the question I’ve been seeking lately.
The sweet song of the forest with a light breeze rustling the leaves, the beat of an acorn falling to the floor, the bubbling of the mountain brook, and the vocals of joyful morning birds, welcoming a fresh new day… a new blessed beginning.
How my husband always tell me I’m beautiful, even though I don’t always see it.
The way he plays with our kids, and how they adore him and treasure the moments they get to spend with him while he’s home.
The passion he has for music, and how his joy excites our children when he teaches them to play the guitar.
My students yelling, “this is the best day ever!” After spending weeks, and late nights planning and preparing for an incredible fun-filled educational day.
Watching that moment my students completely light up when they finally understand how to add fractions.
My principal stopping me to say that one of my past students came to tell her that I “changed his life.”
Watching my students grow as from little timid individuals to a class family as they support, encourage and stand up for each other throughout the year.
Some of these moments just happen and are given to use like a gift. Some of these moments happened after determination, hard work, and passion to create something beautiful for others, regardless of how tired we were, or how difficult it was to put in the extra bit of effort….
Some because we needed love, and some because we had love to give.
But each and every tiny moment has lifted me up and made my heart smile. They each allowed me to take a breath and realize that there is more to life than struggling to keep up with the chaos that the world tells us we have to.
These are the moments that inspire. These are the moments that empower.
These are the moments that are truly powerful enough to enlighten not only our own lives, but the lives of those around us.
The light in these tiny moments is bright enough to burn through the darkness of the world.
Stop… Be still… Breathe, listen, and feel… Be present in this moment, and allow this gift to penetrate the soul. Feel the encompassing joy, and know that you are loved.
These moments are truly what we live for….and for these tiny moments….I am deeply and profoundly grateful.
