I Need Speed (Bumps).....

In my Sunday school class yesterday the lesson was about using the gifts God has given us.
I walked in with a big 'ol box wrapped prettily in bright blue paper.
Talk about an instant kid magnet!

They ALL wanted to hold it and shake it and open it immediately.

I told them that I had just received this "gift" in the mail.
I told them how cool it was to get such a neat gift.
I told them how excited and grateful I was to receive this big box.

Then I threw it in the trash can.

Ballistic freaking out ensued.

Of course we later pulled it out and my rabid precious 3rd and 4th graders psychotically excitedly ripped it open and we discussed how important it was to recognize and use and appreciate our God given gifts and talents.

(And before you think I am at all creative....that idea was directly from my pre-printed lesson guide!)

The big blue box,
in combination with this really cool book I'm reading,
Got me thinking.

How many gifts am I given that I basically just chuck into the trash can?

How many many many good things do I unconsciously
(and sadly enough....consciously)
ignore or
overlook or
push aside or
simply not recognize
because I'm too busy focusing on the constant chaos that consists of my daily life?

Paul says,
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

All circumstances.
ALL of them.
A.L.L.

Ok.
I've heard that before.

When things...."bigger things".....happen in my life I do try to find thankful moments.
It's certainly not easy....and it's not really natural sometimes...but I try.

If the "event" is big enough that it registers on my
"LIFE EVENT OCCURRING RIGHT NOW" radar
then it's a little easier for me to recognize it and look for the proverbial silver lining.

Dishwasher breaks down?
Thank God we have a warranty and running water and paper plates.

Car battery dies?
Thank God I have a good neighbor and recognize that He might have been protecting us from something along the driving journey.

Flight gets cancelled (three freaking times)?
Thank God for extra time with my kids and a cool experience.

But what about all the smaller moments?
The tiny events and occurrences that add up to the "normal" daily grind of my life?

Making coffee.
Washing dishes.
Checking email.
Shopping for school supplies.
Working out.
Washing sheets.
Watering plants.
Driving to activities.
Paying bills.
Dusting shelves.

I suspect that every single one of these little activities....
these "moments"
carries something that I could
-and should-
be thankful about.

I have 3 healthy kids.
They go to an amazing school.
They progressed to the next grade.
They are excited about new supplies.
My husband has a job to make enough money to purchase supplies.
I am DONE school supply shopping.

All things to be thankful for....sure.
BUT....what about the SMALLER moments?
The little "freeze frames" that make up the frenzied chaotic and (let's admit it) relatively stressful excursion of outfitting 3 kids with school supplies trip??

--Ethan's total focus on finding just the right ruler.
--Carolyn's gi-normous grin when she finds a pocket folder with puppies on the front.
--Bennett's pretended nonchalance as he requests locker accessories.
--the smell of freshly sharpened wooden #2 pencils.

These "mini-moments".

Just writing about them makes me smile.

If I can slow down enough to recognize them as they are happening....
Recognize and grab onto the "blips" of joy that are truly truly numerous...
...It would begin to seem that all of these small events could  add up to
minutes
and hours
and eventually (possibly) into a state of being.

When I look for
and recognize
and thank God for these smaller things.....
They stand out more to me.

Instead of the stressful nuttiness with which I usually operate....
I can maybe begin to see all of the goodness God has placed in my path.

Maybe....by picking out the little little things...
(the way tomato plants smell when water hits them)
(the sound coffee makes when it's perking)
(the feel of warm sheets coming out of the dryer)
(the satisfaction of seeing a pile of bills ready to be mailed)
(the smell of lemon Pledge )

...I can really truly be thankful in ALL things.
In ALL circumstances.
With ALL situations.

So many things I've overlooked or ignored.
So many gifts God's plopped right into my lap that I've tossed in the trash.
So many moments I've missed because I'm too busy to see them.

Slow down.
Focus.
Receive.
Savor.
Thank.

I'll try.
I'll really try.

Maybe I'll just sit and drink my coffee without answering emails and reading the paper and straightening the kitchen and having to rewarm the cup 8 times.

Maybe I should start with baby steps and just try to only rewarm it once???

Either way....I'll be thankful that I have a microwave.
And more coffee.
And new moments with new chances for the many times I mess it up.

So many little gifts.
Wrapped in all kinds of pretty paper.

I'm going to keep my eyes (and heart) open for them....
And probably drink more coffee.