May 31, 2026
We often take for granted the little things of daily life. Ones so ordinary that we ignore them as mere background to our more pressing daily activities. The breeze, warm sun on our skin, blue of the sky, distant laughter of children, smiles of friends. The little bits of life that surround us but go largely unnoticed. I thought of that as I listened to my wife making coffee before I arose. Do I pay attention? Do I even notice the glint of sunrise on the grass? Do I “stop to smell the roses?” I doubt that most of us do.
She placed flowers on the breakfast table. Cooled the too-hot coffee a bit for me. Lowered the blinds last night so the bright moon didn’t disturb our sleep. Little bits of love. I decided to pay more attention to such things, to return her love with a shoulder rub, to take her to dinner so she doesn’t have to cook. I resolved to note things that I would miss if they suddenly ceased. We are, after all, in our eighties.
Maybe it’s time for me to reflect on God’s wonderful creation all around; to savor the gifts He bestows on us. Wind rustling the trees, fanciful clouds passing over, birds chirping, love given and received. Not to ignore the ills of the world, certainly, but to balance them with what is good and true, blessings that reveal God’s love for humanity. They are everywhere if you pay attention. I can turn off distressing news and begin to count my blessings. What blessings would you list?
