It’s the Simple Things

This world has become at times incredibly complicated.  It seems as though people are always busy and are running around from thing to thing.  There is alway something to be worried about, or to be working on.  This has led to a lot of hurt, stress, anxiety, and depression in many people. The old saying is that people need to take the time to smell the roses.  This is taking time to appreciate the small things and enjoy life as opposed to just rushing around with barely any time to embrace it.  However, I think as the world has gotten more technology advanced, and as we have more jobs and leadership opportunities, we never hardly take the time to smell the roses.  

What many people have discovered throughout this time of social distancing is that simple things easily make someone incredibly happy. I was recently thinking about this again while I was watching my neighborhood kids in the trailer park climb my apple tree to pick apples. They pick my small green apples in order to bring them to their mom who uses it to make a “spicy sauce” (in their words). At first, this was a scary thing for me to watch as I was afraid they would fall off the shed and/or the tree. (To be fair, there are sometimes that I still am), but they find so much joy in picking their apples. And, really it makes me happy that they are outside being active and hanging out with their friends as opposed to just being on their phone or laptops.

I am so happy and filled with joy about things like watching the kids pick apples.  I also have found that looking at sunflowers, playing with my dogs, and a bike ride by the lake are just the most precious things.  Those may be what people consider simple things.  This isn’t anything with major technology.  This isn’t something that is considered to be the new and greatest thing, but it is something that can still reap a lot of joy.  

When I was in college I was challenged to write down five things that I was grateful for everyday in my grateful journal.  This has given me more opportunity to look for something different to be thankful for every day.  I want to always try to find something new, so that means I need to look for different things as opposed to just going with the five things that I always say, everyday.  This has ultimately resulted in me looking around smiling and being thankful, creating a more positive outlook in myself.  

Finding joy and thankfulness in all things including the simple things is also in the Bible in 1 Timothy 4:4-5.   These verses say,  “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”  God did take the time to create the simple interactions, the apples in the trees, the glistening light off the lake, and the sunflower.  Therefore, these are things that can be received with great gladness.  

I am not 100% great at this at all times, however.  I still struggle at times, especially when I am really impatient.  I don’t like when things don’t work.  I love my laptop and technology, but I hate when it decides to not do the things that I want it to do.  There are many times that I take for granted the small things and the simple things.  In fact, I can get more mad at them.  I am definitely not the best at taking my time.  Even while running, I usually try to make sure I do it as fast as I can and I make sure to have my music, and so it almost seems as though I am not spending time taking in the sights. I love to go golfing, but I don’t enjoy taking my time.  I get really upset if I am behind people who are, and I have to end up waiting for them.  These are things that I have tried to work on, but I definitely still need practice.  

What are the simple things in your life?  What are the simple things that bring you great joy and happiness?  What are the things in nature that you find are just beautiful?  What is the simple activity that makes you smile?  Technology and big shiny things are great to have in this world.  I love my laptop! It is the only way that I have been able to have this blog! However, there are times that I feel as though I can’t live my life without this or Wifi, or my cell phone. While again, we should totally be grateful for those items as well, what are the simple and wonderful things that we also need to be grateful for? Take some time today to really think about those wonderfully simple things that bring you joy!