Wonderment

Photo by Becky Worth-Jones

Wonderment

Do you stop in wonderment?

Wonderment is a state of awed admiration, respect.

Every day we rise in the morning with our mundane routines. We walk through the day from one thing to the next, not often taking a moment to look up from our coffee, our computer, walking down the street running errands to no end.

We fail to notice.
We fail to see the life around us.
We fail to pause.
We fail to see the old woman crossing the street and consider the long life she has led; what amazing experiences she has been able live through.

What if you helped her across the street and asked her about her life while you walked? Imagine the stories you would hear if you took that moment in time!

We are constantly in a hurry rushing that we pass by the little girl in the store reading a label to her mama with pride as she has begun a new skill on her journey. Her mama stands bursting with love watching her daughter discover what she can do as they shop. But you missed it as you made your way to the register thinking only of your next task.

What if you stopped and said, ‘good job!’ What if you were able to see the awe in a small child learning to read?

I often remind myself when I am feeling overwhelmed to slow down and see life through the eyes of a child. My children are teenagers today, but their experiences are so different from my own. I treasure the evening dark long car rides home from weekly choir practice as my daughter can’t stop talking about her day’s experiences.

A child sees everything for the first time with this awe, admiration, and respect for what they are seeing. We forget that as we age.

A lovely friend took this beautiful photo of her granddaughter. I think even as it was posted to social media, we may have paused for a moment then kept scrolling. I stopped. I sat in awe with this child. I imagined all the wonderful ideas going through her mind at this moment. This may have been the first time she ever saw a sky this beautiful, this big and glorious. You can feel it just looking at her staring up at the wonderous sky. I then paused myself to honor the beauty that had been captured.

When was the last time you experienced such awe?

Every day we wake and there is a sunrise; some mornings they are indescribable. Then other mornings I found the roads covered in fog sifting through the mountains as if dancing.

Did you see it?

This reality is around you every day, but you have to pause to find it. You must remember you were a child once upon time.
What if you woke tomorrow with the eyes of a child; see the world again for the first time.

Embrace wonderment!