Embrace the Ordinary vol. 2019 vol. 4: Gift of Wonder

Wonder.

Taking notice of and delighting in the things around us.

Being open to joy.

Seeing the world as if almost anything is possible.

Appreciating the little things.

The ladies at Abiding Together chatted about wonder a few weeks back. It was so good; you really should take the time to listen. It’s inspired me to (hopefully) revisit these posts more often, to see the divine in the ordinary, to watch for unexpected grace in the routine of raising a family, to be ready for encounters with God Himself.

“Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” — PSALM 72:18-19

Welcoming the gift of wonder changes the way I see the world. Instead of slow-paced baking with a preschooler, I have sweet (pun intended) memories teaching him to measure and pour. Even better is watching him create his own house, decorating with colors and patterns with no direction from me. 

Errands are still errands, but wonder opens my eyes to marvel (usually with my son’s prodding) at the construction sites and towering cranes (ordinarily an eye-sore, to be honest), and how do they work anyway?, and what incredible planning it takes to remodel an old house, and geese are less annoying when one stops to consider how incredible the Flying V really is.

Opening my eyes again to watch for these things tunes my soul to watch for God. 

Advent seems like the perfect time to practice wonder, to see again with the eyes of a child . . . to imagine the cold night, the angels singing, the animals in the stable, the mysterious and enchanting Magi visiting the adorable Baby. 

Wonder is like a gift that keeps revealing itself . . . there’s always more to see, more to know, more to experience. Definitely a perfect thing to try out this season. 

And really, give the podcast a listen. It’s worth it.