On my way home recently I witnessed an amazing sunset. The sky was reddish and there were rows of clouds that literally glowed with the sun’s rays. It was beautiful! I even sent a text to Bob but it was not visible from where he was. When I stopped to run an errand I told the shopkeeper that she should step outside and look at the sky. She did but her expression lacked any real interest.
That reminded me of how we take God’s creation for granted. When Bob and I first moved to Lynchburg we said to ourselves that we should never take the beautiful view of the mountain ranges for granted. However, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven up Timberlake Road without even looking to my left to see the Peaks.
There is a song sung by Keith and Kristyn Getty called “Don’t Let Me Lose My Wonder”. It reminds me of the little things that we take for granted and “lose our wonder”. I liked this line:
“I’ve watched a spider spin a star between the window box flowers.”
Can’t you just picture that “star” shining with the dew of the morning? Here are some others that come to mind:
- The intricacy of the wings of a butterfly
- A child’s laugh or hug in the midst of a tough time
- Rainbows
- The vastness of our universe
- Being in the middle of nowhere and seeing literally millions of stars
- A mountain range with a lake beneath shimmering at sunrise
Take a moment to think of some of your own. You don’t have to look far to find something to be in wonder over. The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 136 in verses 3 & 4 says it this way:
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
Verse 3 leads us right back to thankfulness! When I witnessed that beautiful sky it was the perfect reminder to give thanks and praise to God right in that moment. The hard part is opening our eyes enough to see the many wonders around us.
What is right in front of you now that you are taking for granted? I wonder!