Today I got to spend an evening with my three year old nephew & my mom after watching my one year old twin nieces. We got to play in the pool, have a bonfire, and pretend to be cowboys. Sawyer (my nephew) had a blast and loved every minute of it, and truthfully I did too. I love how his laugh is contagious, I love the way he tries to be "big" and help out in any way he can. I love how he jumps off into the pool and tries to make the biggest splash, and I love how he pretends he's a cowboy and runs around trying to shoot me. He's only three years old but he's a little man. Spending time with him and the girls today just made me realize that it's the little things in life that truly make the biggest difference.
Today just made me grateful for all that God has given me and for the role that I have in not only Sawyer's life but in my other three nieces' lives as well. I get to be their aunt, and I get to love on them. Being with him and my mom around our little fire just made me realize: Life is about spending time with those God has placed in your life and around you. It's about community, it's about love, it's about both giving & receiving the love that God has so freely given you to anyone you come into contact with. It's about being thankful, and it's about being present in those sweet little moments God has gifted you with.
Sometimes, it's hard to really be present...our minds are wandering 90 miles a minute, we have deadlines to meet, dinner to get ready, homework/papers due, or work stuff on our plate. It's hard to really slow down, unwind, and enjoy the little things. Yet, children I think are the best teachers in helping us understand what it means to fully live in the moment. They are always in the present, never worried about tomorrow, and the things that mean the most to them are often found in the smallest of gestures such as getting to go to McDonald's for a milkshake or getting to spend the night at Jenny & Papa's. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, they take life as it comes and they appreciate when you make them feel loved, important, & special. Likewise, they make you feel loved, important, & special when they want you to play with them, or give you hugs, or include you in whatever task they're doing. Sometimes, children are the best teachers, and God uses them in great ways to illustrate what He wants to show you.
This evening, while watching Sawyer roast marshmallows and bring them to me, I just felt happy, at ease, and grateful to have the life that I do. Everything that I needed was right there in-front of me, and everything that I needed I already had. God has blessed me with more than enough. It really is the little things in life. So tonight, I pray you count your blessings, hold your loved ones a little tighter, and be fully immersed in the season of life you're in. The little things matter, and I hope you take the time to recognize them & enjoy them for as long as you can. God's been good has He not?
To close, there's a song that I've linked here which I believe best captures what this post is about. Give it a listen.
At the end of the day, Lord I pray I have a life that's good.
--Hailey Renee
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