I have a viral infection - sorry for the official buzz-kill - and it's horribly inconvenient; however, in the midst of it all, I've had an incredible "It's the Little Things..." moment and can't wait to share it with you, dear Reader.
As I lie on my comfy mattress in my office (in order to feel halfway-normal), I was swept into the affects of illness: "Full" head, nausea, weakness, and severe ornery-ness. As I felt these symptoms, I began to thank God....for the sickness so I can fully appreciate my health and for the healing that I know will come.
Not long after, as I was in a trance-like state of "Being still to know He is God," He revealed to me a new avenue of ministry that He was calling me to. Details and all. I realized instantly that through being obedient, even if it was through the messy circumstance of being laid out flat, He was able to talk to me.
What does "Be still and know that I am God" mean? My Father is telling me to stop ("Be still...") and to turn off the mind/self and let Him in, to KNOW Him. To turn all my focus, heart and soul, on Him to be able to receive His message(s) crystal-clearly.
Although it took me two missed days of work and fewer hours on Pinterest (wink!), I finally got His message. It's definitely one of the little things in life that is worth repeating.
Photograph taken by Jen Flatt Osborn
So I finally did it. Created a blog. As a writer, lover-of-words, and girl who was born with a book in my hands, you'd think I would have joined the ranks sooner. But, Que Sera Sera! (Love me some Dorris Day.)
A couple of days ago, it hit me. Not to start a blog, but that I had something to say. I often think about the little things that make me happy and if I actually verbalize "the thing" to the unsuspecting soul who's with me, I'm usually met with some quizzical looks.
But isn't it true? Isn't life filled with wonderful moments, however small, that can flood us with joy? Doesn't God provide those tiny little experiences at just the right time? Some of these things happen to us once in our lifetime and then there are the ones that we just can't get enough of.
And they all have this in common: They bless us. So I'd like to share with you my first list of "It's the Little Things..." in hopes that you'll begin to notice and embrace God's constant shower of gifts to His children.
- Laughing with my daughter
- Recognizing the Holy Spirit's presence
- The smell of my husband
- Finding money in my pocket
- The first touch of my new magazine that comes in the mail
- Connecting with an animal
- The very last bite of a double scoop of chocolate in a sugar cone
- The sound of a good rain
- Waking up on Christmas morning
- The smell of anything vanilla
- Seeing my husband glance at me like I'm a hot fudge sundae
- Waking up to snow
- The feeling after a hard day's work
- Being in the middle of a great book
- Getting a compliment
- Feeling loved
- Giving someone money who needs it
- Getting a text from my daughter
- The beginning of a UT (that's University of Tennessee!) football game
- Seeing a prayer answered
Just a start to the little things in life that make me happy.
And may God give you tons of little things, too!
Jen
