Green Grass and Warm Sand

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:11

I’m sitting here typing as the last load of laundry finishes and the empty bags are ready to be taken back to the attic.  The Wohlfert’s and 21 good friends had a wonderful week sharing a house at the beach in Destin Florida.  As I manage to get back into the routine of normal life I can’t help but ponder a few things. Once again the simple things in life continue to amaze and inspire me.  I hope you don’t mind if I share a few lessons from the simple parts of our week.

*Green grass is beautiful.  The drive south was like a painting that just came to life before my eyes.  I didn’t realize how brown Michigan grass is until I watched the road side turn into a green carpet as we continued to drive.  I had forgotten how beautiful green is…I’m determined to remember that when I get tired of mowing my own green lawn. 

*Warm sand and cold waves are the best combination.  As I walked along the warm beach it was always a little shocking to get splashed with the cold waves that would wash in and surprise me.  I wondered how many times surprising combinations appeared and I was too busy to notice.  I get so used to seeing things in predictable patterns I forget the joy that comes from being surprised.

*Nine girls laughing, dancing and talking all at once is a beautiful sound…at any hour.  I was reminded how deafening silence can be when compared to the sound of laughter and fun created by people who truly enjoy each other’s company.  The noisy house made me realize how fast time flies and how quickly precious moments pass.  I’ll remember that the kind of racket friends make together is far more valuable than sleep or peace…the sound of friendship is a beautiful thing!

*Everything is better when shared with friends including cooking and dishes!  Friends are a treasure that counteracts the things in life that aren’t so great!  Take time to foster friendships because they truly add sweetness to life!

*Being still is underrated and underdone! I sorted more things out in my head and my heart through quiet prayer this week than I have in a very long time.  I think I need to take a serious look at the number of things I jam into my days because that still and quiet prayer stuff was amazing!

*God thinks of everything, he loves to surprise us with His love and mercy and He reveals himself in such amazing ways like beautiful scenery, happy laughter, sweet reminders of those we love, beautiful churches, friendly strangers and sweet GPS voices that get you out of traffic jams.  He’s the best!

It was a wonderful week with fabulous people in a beautiful place…thank you God!

A Seed To Plant:  Find a way to connect with something simple and perhaps overlooked in your day and spend some quiet time enjoying it and thanking God for it.

Blessings on your day!