Sometimes, when we’re asked to list off what we love in life, we feel this obligation to list those things in the priority in which we feel is ‘right’. For example…”Jesus, my husband, my children, etc..” At times, it can feel as though we’ll be judged by what order we place these things in our answer.
But you know what? It’s ok to just sit back, and dwell in the thoughts and feelings of what you love. I know for a fact that Jesus knows how much I love Him. So in my rambling off of all the many blessings He’s given me TO love, if I don’t list Him right away, I know He’s not put off by that.
The Lord desires for our lives to be filled with joy and abundance. He has created us to see, to notice and receive things that are pleasurable. He is delighted when we see the detail in the blessings around us, and notice the finite characteristics of even the tiniest miracle.
Sometimes, because of our hurts or traumas, seeing blessings in anything can be hard. It can be a real stretch to admit you love something, because sometimes you’re afraid that if you admit it, you’ll lose it.
My friend, we all have hurts and traumas. Yes, some moreso than others. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that everybody’s hurts are equal, because they definitely are not. But I am going to sit here and assure you of God’s love for you. Despite what you may have experienced, and despite what others may have told you….God loves you, very deeply.
He wants you to know Him and FEEL His love for you. He wants intimacy with you in a way that no other human could ever have. God knows every inch, every hidden corner of your heart. He knows your pain and struggles. He knows your weaknesses and flaws, and all the many mistakes you’ve made in the past. And He wants you to know that Jesus died on the cross for you – not DESPITE those things, but BECAUSE of those things. If we weren’t hopelessly flawed human beings, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to come and die.
He loves you, and He died for you because of your shortcomings. And He wants you to live in communion with Him and has mercifully poured out blessing upon blessing into your life. Whether you see them or not, there are blessings in your life to be found.
Amongst all the sin and horrors of this world, there is a true, living, loving God who has created everything with so much beauty and so many pleasurable details. And it is the desire of His heart that we experience joy through Him, and all that He has created.
We just need eyes to see those things. I don’t mean literally….of course we all have eyes. But we need to be looking through a lens of gratitude so that we don’t miss the beauty in the ordinary. We need eyes that see the elegance in the bees movements as they pollinate. And ears that hear the softness of wind moving amongst the trees.
Do the small things excite you? Do you ever see the magic within your everyday encounters? Do certain sounds or smells ignite a fire inside of you so strong, that sometimes you wonder if you’re crazy for loving something so much?
You’re not crazy. Being moved by what you love, is not silly. When we take delight in our everyday experiences, when we can see and dwell on the beauty in the seemingly mundane….we can freely answer the question, “What do you love?”, because there’s simply so many things to list!
I want to invite you to step away from the pressure to provide perfectly scripted answers, and just sit back, close your eyes, and allow yourself to ruminate on all of your many loves. It doesn’t matter what comes first. Just take a deep breath in, and let your heart do the talking. Go deep, and let yourself experience each and every one of the beautiful blessings you love as you rhyme them off.
I have done that today, and here are some of the many loves of my heart.
I Love…
- that my 5 year old boy still has those little knuckle dimples
- my daughter’s freckles around her eyes
- the smell of coffee and how the first sip tastes
- how my son leans down over his trucks as he pushes them along the floor
- how I can feel the breeze through my hair as I sit by the open window in the early mornings
- the fact that Jesus cares about the things I love
- how my husband has developed laugh lines beside his eyes, because when I see them pop up, it means I know he’s happy
- the feeling of my daughter’s hands
- hearing my kids laughing together while they’re playing
- walking through my garden and smelling the scent of each individual plant
- the way my dog snuggles in with me before I get out of bed in the morning
- the smell of the cool crisp fall air
- watching my clean laundry blow in the breeze on the clothesline
- hearing my family enjoy the meal I just cooked for them, with all their “mmmms”
- the sound of wood chips crunching beneath my feet while I walk along my garden paths
- watching my kids ride up and down the driveway on their bikes
- my daughter’s imagination and how her creativity gives me insight into her mind
- the sound of the squeaky front door when my kids are coming in and out of the house all day
- the smell of fresh baked bread in my kitchen because it reminds me of my Grandma’s house
- the colours God has graciously painted nature with, simply for our enjoyment
- the speed in which my dog’s tail wags when my husband comes home
- looking out the kitchen window and seeing little shoes sprawled across the back lawn – a true sign of a good time
- seeing my daughter belly laugh so hard that her nostrils flare and tears roll down her cheeks
- the feeling of little arms wrapped around my neck at bedtime
- kissing my children on their heads, even if their hair is dirty and they need a bath
- the familiar feeling of my husband’s hand on mine
- the stillness of the house in the early morning in contrast to the business of nature outside my window
- seeing my children wear their matching Christmas pyjamas every Christmas Eve and Christmas morning
- the smell of gingerbread
- the feeling of freshly washed sheets
- the sounds of cows and roosters coming from the neighbouring farm
- the look of pure joy on my son’s face when my husband makes paper airplanes
- how my children get giddy when they talk about our family Christmas traditions
- how my son always points out the beauty in a sound or smell
- watching the swings in our backyard sway in the breeze, as if they’re preparing for their next occupants
- when I’m lucky enough to actually see a leaf falling off of a tree
- the feeling of community when a neighbour stops by, or when we take them some eggs or cookies
- watching my children’s tongues squirm around their lips when they’re really focused on something
- the feeling of my husband’s warmth when we’re cuddled on the couch watching TV
All of these things absolutely delight me. And because they’re all good, and God is good, I know He delights in them too.
No matter what you’ve dealt with in the past, or what you’re dealing with today….please, just take a moment to close your eyes and let yourself delight in the joy of the things you love. It’s good to do that.
Blessings,
~Maryann
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