The screen door crashed and muted footfalls raced across the carpet. “Come outside and look at the sky before it blows away!” called my littlest girl.
“Before what blows away?”
“The sky, it’s beautiful! But the clouds are moving really fast. I’m afraid you’ll miss it if you don’t come now, before the clouds blow away.”
I sighed. What I really wanted to do was finish the dishes, but I dried my hands and followed my husband out the front door and up the driveway where we took our place behind our daughter. She gazed up at an impressionist’s sky, magenta bordered by blue and orange, molten sun captured and smudged with white clouds that swirled over our heads.
She was right; the sky was beautiful. But it was nothing compared with the little girl.
Beauty reveals itself to her everywhere and she’s got this breathy little gasp that lets us know when she’s spotted it. She likes my outfit? Delighted gasp. She sees a picture of an artfully set table? Delighted gasp. She walks out onto snowy path? Delighted gasp.
She sees. I could learn from that girl.
What I saw that night was not the sky. I saw the girl in front of it and I watched the wispy remains of her childhood blowing past as quickly as the clouds above our heads. And like the clouds, it’s moving on to make room for something new, something equally lovely.
Lovely, but different. I don’t want to miss what childhood remains while it’s here.
Even if it means leaving the dishes.
Sharing stories this week with the writers at Kelli’s Unforced Rhythms.
All too quickly the things of life blow right away, don’t they?! Thank you for the reminder not to miss them.
I’m quick to forget so I, too, am grateful for the reminders that come my way.
She must get her ability to see beauty from her mom, who sees it and records it. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful post.
Your encouraging words made me smile. We all have our way of sharing, don’t we? Thank you.
This is beautiful, Natalie and I’ve stood at the sink too before racing out the door to catch a rainbow. Last night I was just a few seconds too late to see a beautiful pinkness that lit the sky for mere seconds. I was thinking recently how often the bible talks about delight and how seldom modern Christians do. Yet another way the children lead us! Thanks for linking with Unforced Rhythms.
So often it’s the little ones who lead through their simple, undistracted approach to life–and delight. I love your connection there.
Oh, yes, she sees. I pray I see like your sweet girl. This is so lovely – thank you.
It’s the little ones who teach best, isn’t it? Thanks for being here today.
It’s hard for me to leave the dishes too (or whatever task my mind is set on). But yes, you did the right thing. I want to do it more. We miss out on so much beauty otherwise. Thanks, Natalie.
It’s so nice to know I’m not alone in wanting to delay the beauty until after the work. You encourage me because I read the results of your attention.
Beautiful post in word, photo & thoughts. So very true – we often have to leave what we are doing to get a glimpse of the beauty God brings to delight us. So glad to have stopped here this morning, Natalie!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words and your presence here today.
Excellent thought to ponder. Paying attention is 3/4 of the way to blessings! Love . . .
So true, Joy. Your lovely photography must certainly be a result of paying attention:)