Finding Miracles in the Moments

I love to explore the outdoors with my grandkids, especially when our adventures lead us into the woods.

My oldest grandson loves to run and is always racing ahead, scampering up hills and sliding down ravines faster than the rest. His goal is to lead the way and arrive at the designated destination first.

Not so with his younger sister. She often dawdles along, sometimes painfully slow in her progress. But it’s not because she cannot move quickly. It’s because she is busy exploring life around her. She faces the world with a sense of wonder seldom found in most of us, regardless of age.

While her brother is content to charge ahead, eyes focused on his destination, she notices the small miracles tucked along the journey.

And when I match my pace with hers, I see them, too.

She marvels over flowers, twigs, rocks, leaves, and pieces of slate with equal delight, blue eyes sparkling in excitement. Not only does her sense of wonder make me smile, it invites me to join in celebrating the beauty surrounding us. Beauty I too often fail to notice, let alone appreciate.

I see more when I adapt my steps to hers than when I simply rush ahead with everyone else. And when I pay attention to the delighted gasps of, “Oooohhh, look at this!” I tiptoe into the wonder with her.

Who I choose as my companion on the journey matters.

If I want to explore life to the fullest, it requires accompanying my Savior and matching my pace to His.

Wonder can be found in the best and worst of life’s offerings. But only if I purposefully slow down to look for it. Only if I stop the mad rush toward accomplishment and alter my steps to follow His.

There are miracles in today’s moments, and Jesus invites us to explore them with Him.

May we do so with abandon, marveling over each one with the delight of a starry-eyed child.

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This post is written in conjunction with https://fiveminutefriday.com/2022/04/07/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-explore/ Teaming up with an online group of writers who encourage others to share the words God has given them. The gist is to write for five minutes on a one-word prompt, then post your writing and link up with others who do the same — no overthinking, no deep editing, just free-writing in a short amount of time.

16 Comments

  2. I adore experiencing the world through the eyes of young children. They teach us so much more about God than we could ever learn on our own.

    Thank you for sharing this!

  3. I tend to be that little explorer.
    Even now when I say that explore brings out darkness in me. The word made me feel rushed this morning…
    Thank you for reminding me of the little, slow moments.

    • Laura, your blog post on Explore has me thinking this morning. I actually just finished copying it into my journal because there is something deep hidden in its message, not something to be absorbed quickly. Thanks for sharing the flipside – that sometimes we are hesitant to explore. Sometimes we are too tired for one more new thing. May you slow down enough to find joy in the moments and have the energy to embrace the precious treasures hidden in plain sight. I pray a breath of fresh air whispers into your soul-weary today. Blessings!

  5. What a beautiful picture of the different ways we explore and “see” the world, Barbara. Sometimes, we are active and fast-paced taking in all the sights and sounds of the large world. The faster pace is like riding on a horse with Jesus.

    Other times, we are active and slow-paced taking in all the sights and sounds of the “hidden” things around us. The slower pace is the sitting at Jesus feet. The wonder of discovery in the little things.

    Your article reminds me that we need to actively explore the wonder of creation at both paces – for each holds wonders and delights in and with God.

    • Keeping pace with Jesus is key, regardless of the speed. I’m one who tends to move through life a little too quickly, so I can miss the beauty in the moments if I’m too intent on the destination in the distance.

  6. When I’m out walking with my husband, he often gets quite annoyed with me because I don’t “route march” like him, to get from start to finish as quickly as possible – I’m like your granddaughter – dawdling along admiring just about everything that I see.
    Just stopped by from FMF #18

    • I’m just the opposite, Heather. My husband is the “meander-er.” My normal walking pace is a “jogging” speed on my treadmill, hence people assume I’m in a hurry even when I’m not. Moving quickly is just my normal setting, so I have to intentionally slow my pace when walking with others. But this particular granddaughter definitely helps me slow down to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

    • I was not trying to be misleading, Barb, but this photo is actually a stock photo from Pixabay. The little girl is adorable, but she is not my granddaughter. I just thought the photo captured the essence of wonder I was attempting to describe. 🙂

  8. Lovely, Barbara. Yes, it is when we stop to notice, to be mindful, then we can observe and begin to explore. I have a similarly wired pair of grandchildren, but I adore the perspective they refresh in me too. Thank you.

  9. Barbara, this is such a beautifully descriptive message. You reminded me of exploring with my children when they were little. They had such wonder, and questions too. Thank you so much for sharing this blessed message.
    FMF#20

  11. Some say, friend, drink the hemlock cup
    and now embrace defeat,
    for as they say, the jig is up,
    but my heart yearns to meet
    small miracles upon the way
    that still may yet be
    as I walk unto the day
    of my Calvary.
    Perhaps these are the desert blooms
    that grow ‘tween stone and stone
    as cancer’s crucifixion looms,
    but I don’t walk alone,
    for He’s come this way before,
    this road that leads to Heaven’s door.

  12. Matching the pace of the Lord – the best way to explore the world and all HE has for us!

    Stopping by (late) from FMF#15

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