It’s good for us to embrace the ordinary in our lives.  We often think our days are filled with nothing but chaos, but if you look deeply into each moment, you will find joy in even the tiniest of events.

Our world is full of amazing beauty and inspiration.  All we have to do is take a good look at it.  Each intricate pattern in a fallen leave was drawn by God.  The fresh, new growth of spring indicate that life goes on. The heat of summer helps us to slow down a little and smell the roses. The smells of autumn enrich our lives too – the pumpkin spice – the cinnamon, apples and brown sugar, hot cider and roaring bonfire. In winter we’re treated to etchings in the frost on the window pane. We snuggle closer, we warm our toes by the fire, we savor hot chocolate, we settle in. Then the process starts all over again.

The smile on a child’s face when he realizes that he can do something he didn’t think he could. The relief in an elderly persons eyes, when you lend a hand to help. The laughter of friends and family. The simple things of life canbe a blessing to us as we trudge through each day.

Sometimes even the dirty dishes in the sink and the unmade beds don’t matter, if you have a moment to share with someone you love.  Maybe the dust is piling up on your furniture, but you have spent time reading a book to a child or teaching them to tie their own shoes.

The big picture is under control.  God is in charge of that. We might forget that from time to time – but He gives us reminders in so many ways.  It’s up to us to look for them.

Look at the fact that you’ve been granted another day to enjoy these simple pleasures.  The beauty in this world has been tarnished by sin, but it’s still beautiful.  Imagine what it looked like before the fall of man.  Imagine what it will be in eternity.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.