I started off this year with a goal. My goal was to write a post of gratitude a day. I made it eighteen posts before failure! Haha! I’m trying to remind myself what we tell our kids. Failure only happens when you quit. Failure is a primary ingredient to success, etc. Isn’t that so typical of new years resolutions or goals? I struggle with falling off the wagon and being so typical so quickly. Haha!
I missed four days of my goal due to being with my oldest at a speech tournament out of town. It was such an incredible, exhausting and wonderful experience. We were up at 5:30am, an hour that I don’t typically see, and in bed around 11pm, going all day. There were so many highs and lows of adrenaline as he prepared for speaking in front of judges and I rode that roller coaster with him. There was so much that we both learned from that experience and we are so grateful to be a part of that association. Needless to say, I was spent after such long days and sleeping late this morning was the cure to my exhausted self.
When living in a state of exhaustion, I am not my best self. I often end up being irritable and my search for wonder escapes me. My dear family has so much grace for me as I constantly am reminded to turn back to Jesus and breathe deeply his grace as I apologize to them for my shortness. Bless them!
My sweet daughter brought me back to wonder today as she rushed over when we were loading in the car, trying to head out to the property. She had been climbing the cherry tree in our front yard and made a discovery. “Mommy, mommy! The cherry tree has four kinds of moss growing on it!!” She was so amazed by the beautiful nature she discovered. She quickly ran over and shared her findings with me. My breath was momentarily taken as we both gazed upon the specimens. They weren’t all moss (something to explore later), but it was incredible to see the life that was growing on our little cherry tree in the front yard.
What was even more incredible to me in that moment was her wonder. My heart was overwhelmed with gratitude. I’m so very grateful my children have grown in their sense of wonder along the journey of their short lives thus far. I don’t remember being aware of much of nature when I was a child, and wonder in God’s beauty of creation was not on my radar. This wonder adds a depth of joy to our lives in the simplest moments, even while rushing out the door. So even though my daily goal was missed, I think I’ll chalk this day up as a win. I thank the Lord I get to live in wonder with my kids even when we fail.