What was the saying several years ago, about small things? Maybe it’s the quote attributed to Kurt Vonnegut, “Enjoy the little things in life because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”

I’m finding that aside from being a “sweet” sentiment, it’s more than a little bit true.

In my life, the life of a wife and mother, the little things actually are the big things. These are the things which build memories. They are the memories which build our family story. These are the things which bring delight and wonder and shape who I am, and I hope are shaping the hearts and souls of my family in beautiful ways, too. 

• Reading stories aloud as often as possible (something we need to get back to in 2019! Through 2017 and much of 2018 we read through the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It was great fun).
• Sweet hugs with my husband, because that love language matters more than a little bit. And then all the silly, ridiculous jokes that keep us laughing, because laughing really is good medicine.
• Snuggles with a toddler who still wants (needs, even) his mama at night.
• Prayer before breakfast, and sitting with little boys who want to be with Mama as soon as they wake up.
• A bear-hug from a teen who normally won’t hug.
• Taking extra time to bake cinnamon rolls as a special treat, and taking even more time to let three boys help sprinkle the sugar.

• Patio dinners all summer long. 
• Dart gun fights, because silliness and chasing each other around the yard in a challenge of aiming and evading is a great stress reliever.

• Driveway chalk art.
• Giggling with a 5yr old about farts (because really, 5 year old boy giggles are pretty contagious); it’s either laugh or cry that flatulence is so darn funny to boys.

• Kisses.
• Neighborhood walks and bike rides.
• Encouraging kids to help in the kitchen, and then letting them find their natural interest to help and excel. Especially when it involves pie. 

 

I tried much more intentionally to be present for little things like these last year. It meant choosing these moments over other things, putting effort into keeping myself patient when I let lots of boys help in the kitchen, making time for the walks over checking off one more thing from my to-do list. They say the to-do list will always be there, and it’s so true. The counters are perpetually cluttered. There is always laundry. But there aren’t always perfect afternoons for a walk. There aren’t always slow-enough days for fresh, homemade pie. I’ll be honest, it’s not always easy to make space in my head and heart for these small things, for the intentional connection required to take note of the simple beauty and joy in these fleeting moments. My life is over-full with distractions and “ought to dos”. But what a dull life of drudgery it becomes, when I do not make the time and space for these moments! These are the moments of life, of joy, of love, and they make life rich and beautiful. These are the moments when the fingerprint of God is touching hearts, because His creative and loving and generous spirit is most present in these connections. Even when don’t realize He’s there, even when we don’t speak about God in those moments, He’s there.

There truly is wonder in the small things.