Tuesdays Unwrapped: Soft and Quiet Moments

Today's gift was one of contrasts.

In the midst of rumbling dishwashers, whirring garbage disposals, blaring horns, fluorescent lights, and cheesy overhead mall music...

I noticed and enjoyed those moments, soft and quiet, woven into the fabric of my day...



Linking with Emily at Chatting at the Sky for her Tuesdays Unwrapped series.

Tuesdays Unwrapped: Through the Fog

I live in the Willamette Valley in western Oregon, and every now and then a blanket of dense fog will descend down to the valley floor and hover for a few days. Today was one of those days. It is the kind of fog that delays flights and makes your stress level rise if you have to drive in it because visibility is so limited.

In addition to limited visibility, it left me feeling a little isolated and lonely. Every now and then I would see the faint shadows of birds flying in the treetops. I have no idea what kind of birds they were, but it reminded me of the hymn entitled “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Chorus:
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Today’s gift was the reminder that no matter where I am, He is with me. Sometimes we can feel like we’re in a mental or emotional fog. Sometimes it is difficult to see what God is doing in our lives, and that can leave us feeling isolated and unsure. In order to navigate through my physical world today, headlights were a necessity. As long as I have His light shining on the path in front of me, I know I can trust Him to get me safely where He wants me next.

Being reminded of His constant care and love today felt like a warm, snuggly blanket on a cold, foggy night.

**Linking with Emily at Chatting at the Sky

Tuesdays Unwrapped

I'm linking with Emily at Chatting with the Sky for her Tuesdays Unwrapped series. It is about finding and opening a gift in the midst of an ordinary day.
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As I stood at the sink, hands immersed in hot soapy water, I absent-mindedly watched her rake the leaves. I was proud of her for noticing that it needed to be done and taking it upon herself to help out where she could. I was mentally preoccupied with my "to do" list when I noticed that she had disappeared into the shed.

I continued to wash and rinse, wash and rinse.

She reappeared with her bright red sled and a roll of masking tape.

My hands stopped.

Sensing something special, I quickly dried my hands and grabbed the camera. I quietly slipped out of the back patio door and began to observe.

She had been raking for some time, and had come up with a creative idea to make the work easier.

I watched as she tried over and over again to secure the rake to the sled with the masking tape. She would test out her new contraption, and when the rake would separate from the sled, she would try re-taping it again. She never appeared frustrated with the failure of each test run, only intent and content on seeing if her idea would work.

After many failed attempts, she gave up and began raking again.

A huge flock of geese flew overhead, honking loudly.

Her face turned toward the sky...

...the rake dropped, and she was off....
arms flapping...
face full of joy...
feeling the wind in her hair...
enjoying the chase...

It is all too easy for me to get bogged down with schedules, to-do lists, and responsibilities. What a refreshing gift it was to observe my sweet girl just being who God created her to be and living in the moment.

She did finish raking the leaves, and look at all of the fun, creativity, and joy that she experienced in the process!