
Isn’t it so easy to get caught up doing, doing, doing, and to lose sight of those things which make life meaningful? And isn’t it even easier to forget how blessed we are and to constantly be longing for the next thing, be it life stages, material possessions, holidays, promotions, the list is endless.
My three year old (G3) reminded me of this the other day when she asked if she could pick flowers from the garden.
“Flowers?” I questioned, rather puzzled. You see, we don’t have a garden, let alone flowers. We have dirt, rocks, weeds. Having newly built in a semi-rural area, the garden hasn’t been a priority yet.
“Yes, flowers!” my daughter insisted.
“But we don’t have any flowers, sweetheart.”
“Yes, we do, Mummy! Down there!”
Baffled, I searched for the infamous flowers.
And then I saw them. Flowers I had never noticed. Flowers I would not have noticed if not for the innocent eye of a three year old. She pointed to an overgrown jumble of weeds, some of which were flowering.
“See Mummy? There. In the garden!”
Well. Who says kids can’t teach you things? That day I learnt a lot. We do have a garden. We do have flowers. It all depends on the way I choose to see it. But first, I must slow down to even have the opportunity of seeing it. Let’s remember to stop and enjoy our children, our partners, our families, our jobs, everything we have, and take in the beauty so we don’t miss it altogether.
When there are no roses to stop and smell, stop and admire the weeds!
(Recommended reading: The Reflective Life by Ken Gire found at Amazon or Word bookstore).