It was Andrew’s first wedding, at least in his remembrance. He’d slept through a few as an infant, but at age two, he was all in. Wide-eyed and curious, he noticed every detail.
His mother, my daughter, was the matron of honor. His sisters, the flower girls. Daddy was occupied with his six-week-old brother, so Andrew and I were a couple. My job was to keep him happy, entertained, and quiet.
He watched the opening procession carefully, waiting for his mother to walk down the aisle. As each bridesmaid processed, he looked them over carefully.
“Is that Mommy?” I whispered into his ear.
“Mo.”
“How about that lady?”
“Mo.”
When his mother appeared, his face split into a toothy grin. “Der Mommy. Pretty!” Then he noticed her bouquet. “Fwowers!”
“Aren’t they pretty?” I said. He nodded enthusiastically.
Down the aisle came his sisters, solemn and angelic in their white tulle dresses, dutifully scattering paper hearts on the damp grass. “Uh-oh,” Andrew said, noticing the litter they’d left behind.
After all had taken their places and the officiate began to speak, Andrew added his commentary to the man’s words.
“Birds!” he said, pointing to the trees above us. “Squirrel?” he asked, noticing a movement in the tree tops. In his quiet-but-not-so-quiet voice, he pointed out an airplane, a helicopter, and a “weaf.”
Fearing he might be distracting the other guests, I gathered him up and slipped from the last row. We stood at the back of the garden.
“Wook! Gigi,” Andrew said. Oak trees made a canopy overhead, and fat acorns dotted the ground. Like a gambler at a slot machine, he gathered the brown nuts and stuffed his pockets full.
He wandered behind a bush, then came running back. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me toward the bush. “Gigi, come!” Cautious about what he’d discovered, I stepped between the shrubs. Andrew’s idea of “interesting” is vastly different from mine. Bugs, rocks, and frogs top his list of fascinating specimens.
But not this time.
“Wook!” he said with a flourish. “Fwowers!”
Sure enough, he’d found a bush covered in pink blossoms much like the bouquet his mommy had carried down the aisle a few minutes earlier. “Pretty,” he declared with a smile, and I agreed.
Reflecting on the day, I thanked God for the opportunity to see the world through Andrew’s eyes. Without his help, I’d have missed the wonder of the afternoon.
His invitation to slow down, look closely, and ponder was a precious gift I’ll not soon forget.
Ever wonder how much we miss because we don’t stop long enough to see?
Solomon, the wise man of Israel, declared, “He has made everything beautiful in his time,” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), but we can only appreciate this beauty if we stop and look.
Father, help us slow down, look closely, and ponder deeply. Enable us to see the wonder and beauty of your creation. Lift our hearts in praise to you, the Creator of it all. May we never be so busy that we fail to recognize your fingerprints on our world. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Now it’s your turn. Do you struggle with being so busy that you fail to notice the simple things? What helps you slow down and appreciate God’s creation? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
What wonderful biblical lessons we can learn from children! I enjoyed your sweet story, Lori. I often rush around, missing some of God’s blessings. I enjoy sitting on the deck just before dark to pray. Praying at that peaceful time of day helps me take a deep breath and focus on God and His blessings.
I love dusk and dawn for quiet meditation, Jeannie. The world is quiet and God’s voice comes clearly through. Thanks for chiming in this week, friend.
I have to be honest Ms. Lori. This post went a totally different direction than what I envisioned as I read the title from my received email. I pictured myself on those mornings when I’ve slept later than I should (5 or 5:30) and I find myself uttering a quick “You know I love You and You know the needs of my heart and all those who need You today Lord. I promise to add more detail later” as I rush out the door to get chores done before the client telephone calls, emails, and demands of the day start rushing in-demanding my immediate attention.
Instead, you caused me to pause and recreate the wonder and joy of a little fella sitting on his Gigi’s lap and exploring the world around him. Your words made me wonder if God sees me the same way when I stop in the midst of doing my endless list of chores and duties around the ranch to notice God’s natural world and the lessons He wants us to learn from it. Do I take every opportunity to crawl up onto Abba’s lap and snuggle close as He focuses His love onto me? I think we all wish that we did more, but like you, when I can, I store those times up as treasures in my heart. Somehow, I think God does also. Thank you for causing me to want to slow down and spend more time in His wonder and love this morning. God’s blessings sweet friend.
I do suspect, J.D., that God smiles as big as we do when our kids delight to spend time with us, invite us into their world, and simply enjoy our presence. I want to remember this when I’m tempted to rush through what could be the sweetest part of my (and God’s) day. Thanks for joining in today 🙂
Beautifully written, beautiful message. Nicely done Lori!
Thank you, Mr. Jim. Welcome to the community.
What a beautiful time you had with your grandson! I love it when my grandchildren show me the world through their eyes! Thank you for writing about and sharing with us your “wedding date” with that precious little one!