When the big goes down it’s the little that lifts you up again.
I’ve never known this to be truer than now in this season.
Last week.
It was full of lessons and growth opportunities thanks to each of us succumbing to a different illness or ailment that required attention to fix.
My husband came home from Nicaragua with a nice little parting gift for his stomach. I was dealing with a prolonged illness that I’ve been battling the last few months (I’m healing, no worries!), on top of a raging sinus infection. My oldest had to go to the ER. My middle girl got strep. My youngest developed pneumonia.
Life was hard and heavy last week.
But here’s the thing I appreciate….
Suddenly, with all the doctor’s appointments and medicines and x-rays and bed laying and washing and crying and praying…
Sitting in the sunshine streaming through my dining window felt like sitting on the shores of a sunny beach somewhere, soaking in waves and breeze and beauty. It felt just as calming.
Watching that same sun kiss the flowers in my white Joanna pitcher felt like seeing the Monet exhibit that visited Houston’s Fine Arts Museum a few years back. It was art. All natural and easy and sweet.
Listening to worship music pipe out of my Apple speakers in the kitchen felt like sitting in the front row of an arena taking in talent, and melody, and story from a real live music show. I could feel the beat in my chest with the same effect.
Walking my pup down our street while the birds sang a sympathy, urging spring to spring, felt like laying on a blanket listening to an orchestra at an outdoor amphitheater at sunset. It sparked something good and creative in me, just as if I was listening to real instruments fill summer air.
Looking out on the mountain, with all those trees standing at attention, each day growing more and more of their warm-weather uniform, felt like watching Bob Ross stand before an easel with paint brush in hand, making swoops of color appear more and more day after day.
My dark chocolate tasted more like heaven than it normally does.
My back deck felt like a respite in a faraway forest somewhere.
My youngest telling a story sounded like pure joy and bliss, with a lisp.
Scripture sounded and tasted like a feast every time I foraged through it.
It was like my eyes came alive.
And all my senses peaked.
And my tired body, and weary mind, and empty heart filled a little with each small but beautiful moment I found myself in.
The world seemed like a miracle.
Because it is. It’s a spoken, spinning, color-filled, light-shedding, faith-sparking miracle.
It just took stripping away a lot of my normal health, and ease, and conveniences to see it.
Today, as we plod through another week and grow stronger and healthier with each step, I’m trying to get back to doing all of my ordinary things, while remembering that nothing in this world is really ordinary.
Lord help us to not have to be brought low to see all the highs again.
Katie, I truly appreciate your depth of spirit, eyes of faith, heart always open to receive, and a steady focus on what truly matters!! I’m thankful and I appreciate you! Love you! ❤️
Thank you so much Patty! I appreciate your faithful support! Love you LOTS! I hope you have a wonderful week!
Once again, your words have painted a picture in my mind’s eye which reminded me of something Rev. Billy Graham once said, “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys”. Thank you for reminding me to be grateful, always and in all things…
Sorry you all are in the grips of nasty ills and such. I will pray for each of you to feel His healing through your bodies. I am thankful for some improvement and your words of the day.
Sending love and happy thoughts to you and each one as you feel the warmth of the One who is your protector ❤
Sometimes He just wants us to be still and let His light fill us , so we can grow just a bit more and let us know that “ Even If”, He never leaves us. Thank you Kate , this blessed me????