Special moments often missed in busyness
When I let life discourage me, I miss special moments such as answers to prayer; but then, sometimes an event jolts me back to life with a super slap zing. This is one such story.
Don’t let a rumbling, thunderstorm-like, melancholy mood block out the bright sunshine beyond the clouds. Slam on the brakes as you careen into a dejected, self-pity state. Don’t let busyness rob you of peace.
Say no.
Take a walk.
Look up!
Special moment with daughter
Recently during a hectic stretch, I recruited my youngest to keep me company on a walk so we could talk along the way. She busied herself with collecting wildflowers and searching the bright blue sky for interesting cloud formations. I raced along, keeping my eyes on the nature trail for gopher holes so I wouldn’t twist an ankle and for slithery snakes I hoped not to find sunning themselves on the path. Preoccupied with completing my exercise goal so I could get on with the next thing, I almost missed a beautiful gift.
“Hey, Mama, isn’t that a bald eagle?”
I stopped. Soaring above a meadow, an eagle’s white head contrasted against a bright blue sky.
“Why, yes, it is,” I whispered. Had she stayed home, I would have missed this moment because I distracted myself with figuring out the future rather than just living in and appreciating the now. Ouch.
How many of us miss God’s gifts because we won’t slow down?
Special moments may be lifetime dream
This experience impacted me because I believed God answered other people’s prayers but somehow didn’t hear mine. But that day, I realized that God had answered a request I made of him long ago. He answered it three times in the last year, but it was only now that I noticed.
Since I was young, I wanted to see a bald eagle in nature. When our boys were small, we traveled a few hours to a dam that promised flocks of eagles. However, I left that dam disappointed and disillusioned because although many birds flocked around the roaring water, not one had a white head. Perhaps they were young eagles. I don’t know. No one was there to explain, and I hadn’t thought to research eagles before buckling all the boys into their car seats.
Now in the last year, I’ve seen three mature eagles up close: one on the way home from shopping, sitting along the road feasting on a dead deer; one floating high in an upper current near my parents’ farm; and this one flying over a spring meadow on one of the first warm days of the year.
God remembers even our smallest wishes, even if we forget. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).
I wonder how many times I miss special moments because I don’t look up! Thank you, Lord, for your many gifts and for your patience.
Don’t let your calendar or list steal the gifts of joy nestled in each day.
Have you discovered a God moment in your day?
Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash.
8 Replies to “Special moments often missed in busyness”
Great story! I love eagles! A sighting is always an amazing experience.
Thanks, Shari! It is! Have you seen any on your kayaking adventures?
I really needed this right now, Michelle! Life has thrown our family a whole bunch of curves this past year, and it’s so easy to keep our head down in discouragement, when we should really be looking up for guidance and love.
Seeing eagles is always a joy! In our suburb, there is an eagles nest right off the highway, so eagle sightings are not rare, but always inspiring.
That is neat that you have a nest nearby! Very cool. I am glad my blog was an encouragement to you, Brenda. I will pray for you and your family. May the Lord bless you with peace and may you see his loving answers to your prayers.
Always a treat to watch eagles soaring! They have made an amazing comeback from where they were years ago! I hope wind turbines don’t set them back!
Yes, I hope they continue to thrive. I love seeing them. They’re so majestic. 🙂 Do you have some near your place? I am so excited to have them around here. Maybe I can see a nest, next! 🙂 I hear they are huge! Thanks for commenting, Julie.
Love this, Michelle. Seeing eagles is a special treat for me. I, too, tend to live in the here and now, rather than alert to what special “sighting” God has for me. Our special(?) sighting this morning was a raccoon on our back deck. Our little dog saw it first and went wild. Fortunately, he was inside at the time, but it goes to show how God loves to surprise us, especially with things in His wonderful creation.
It’s fun to see the wild creatures, as long as we are in a safe place. I wouldn’t want to meet a skunk on the other side of the glass though. LOL I bet Max was excited! I’m glad he couldn’t get to the raccoon as I think they can be mean (or at least fight back). Thanks for sharing, Donna.