There’s a game I play with my youngest son, Brewer, quite often. I’ll pretend not to be paying attention while sitting on the couch and then when he walks by me I’ll violently grab him by the arms and wrestle him to the ground. He dies laughing every time. Then I’ll get back up on the couch and pretend to not be paying attention again. We’ll do this over and over and over until I just can’t take it anymore, because he would literally do it all night. He never gets tired of it. Each time he acts as if he’s surprised I grabbed him.
It reminded me of my favorite G.K. Chesterton quote:
Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.
I was reminded how numb and blind I become to the small wonders around me…
brilliant sunrise
great conversation
beautiful smile
good meal
flowing streams
big hug
contagious laughter
loyal friends
All of these things I take for granted simply because they can become common place in my life. But I want the appetite of infancy. I want to celebrate life and live grateful for each and every moment. However, there are times I think I’ve sinned and grown old, tired, bitter, anxious and judgmental. I’m blinded to the wonders of God around me.
So what simple, maybe even redundant, thing do you need to be thankful for today?
Every morning I make my coffee by using a french press. Start to finish, it takes 10 minutes. Same thing, everyday. Just me by myself in the kitchen before the rest of the house stirs.
In the stillness of the morning, I remind myself, before I do anything else, to be still and Let God speak into my day, let God be who He says He is.
I don’t use a french press – but a good cup of coffee in the morning can’t be beat! With you on that one.
Hearing “I love you” from my mother every time we speak, whether on the phone or in person. That phrase often gets thrown around with such meaningless disregard by the majority of people.
In this moment, I am thankful I have a mother. One who loves me and reminds me of that each time we speak.
Pete. That is what my response is when someone tells me they don’t believe in God. All you need to do is to look around to see that there is a god. A Flower, Sunrise, my favorite is a Babys hands and feet I think they are amazing when I look at them it assures me there is a God and he is Great and loves us all. There is nothing random here all things have a purpose.
I have to agree with that quote. In Genesis 8:22 God says, “While the earth remains, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” If God wanted to change things up, He very well could, but He doesn’t. And(side bar) the things in that passage are some of the very things we commonly overlook.
Walking is monotonous. One foot in front of the other. Step by step by step. Not only am I grateful that I can physically walk, I trust that my steps are leading me on a journey that God designed just for me.
Great post Pete!
I love that I wake up each morning to a new day. Regardless of how bad yesterday was, when I wake up, I feel like I am starting over. Amends can be made, try something new, whatever, God gave me a fresh start.
That monotonous, daily, restart for all of my 54 years is a real comfort. I’ve gone to bed thinking I’ve really messed up & can wake up knowing God gave me a new start.
After returning from a week in the DR, I realized how much I take for granted… hot showers, air conditioning, but mostly I realized that seeing my children every day (Kaleigh was with me, but Lucinda wasn’t)…. talking to my mom everyday. Emailing with my sister every day…. I take so much for granted… I am humbled by what God has done in my life… I pray that I will Celebrate Monotony more today and tomorrow… and on and on…
Amen on the air conditioning… especially this summer. Whew!
Just Breathing…..
Waking up and getting out of bed in the morning. Every time I choose to not take that for granite and spend a little more time preparing the day, life seems a whole lot sweeter.
There are so many times during the day that I get frustrated with how things are going, how things are not going in my life, how some people always seem to have it together and how others never seem to have any sense at all. I sit and have those conversations in my head that start out with how crappy it all is and end up with the rememberence that unlike many of those folks, whether they are doing well or they are broken messes like myself, I have God in my life and I have the hope and assurance that goes along with that simple fact.
The simple fact that I have grown up in a messed up family, full of broken acts and broken dreams, brought to life by broken people… and that God looks at me and says, ” Man, you know how much I love you? Here, let me show you for a minute, son. Now get on up and finish out your day. I’ll see you in a bit.”
That is the simple, everyday thing that happens that I overlook, and I thank you for this post, brother. I REALLY needed this today.
Betty beat me to it. So, I will go with having the start of a new day. Another 24hrs to live life of life’s terms. A fresh start!
This is so good. And such a slap in the face. It’s so easy to forget about the brilliance of the monotony and to remember to see God even there. That Chesterton quote is solid. Sunsets are one monotonous event I will never grow tired of, in them I experience God.
so, yeah, that Chesterton quote? Gold.
I am going to be thinking about that all day.
But what I take for granted? probably my wife’s laugh. She is so full of life and joy and I love that I can make her laugh, but I am quite sure that I take for granted that she loves me enough to laugh at my lame jokes.
who are we kidding, they aren’t lame at all.
(yes they are. sigh.)
being able to read a book.
watching my son play football.
That I am healthy enough to walk or play softball.
I am really too blessed to complain about anything…but the complaining comes so easily sometimes.
thanks Pete!
I posted something like this a couple weeks ago. These are the things from my post that I am thankful for each day:
1. The Lord has gotten me through the night and has given me a new day of life.
2. I have a roof over my head; food to eat; a family to love, and who loves me.
3. I have all my limbs, I can see and I can hear.
4. Though I am in pain most days from injuries sustained throughout my life, I am in relatively good health.
5. Most of all, my Lord loves me, died for me, and has given me the promise of eternal life spent with Him.
I would also like to add these things around me: beautiful flowers, each sunrise and sunset, my grandson’s smile now that he is beginning to lose his baby teeth.
“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Isn’t it startling that God uses children as THE example for what our faith should look like. Children are so full of wonder…and trust…and willing to forgive…and are dependent. We have much to learn from children.
Technology. And those that embrace it. Really. (And if you knew me, you’d die laughing, since I’m a techno-peasant at heart!) Here’s why: that Chesterton quote reminded me of my fave GKC quote (“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”) – and it sent me to the Kindle store. Where to my great great shock there were alot of GK Chesterton works FREE. A community of volunteers has put the print into digital. FREE. Brought tears to my eyes. I am thankful.
Smiling! It’s funny what we take for granted, but last Friday my wife woke up and couldn’t move the left side of her face! They’ve ruled out a stroke (which was, of course, everyone’s first thought) and determined she has Bell’s Palsy, an acute form of facial paralysis. The good news is that usually, most people completely recover with a week to a couple months. But, for now, she still cannot smile, cannot squeeze her eye shut, or have any control on the left side of her face. It’s quite odd, bewildering and frustrating for her. But, she’s still smiling! She’s still going out, doing her things she needs to do. Her half smile is a reminder never to take for granted even the simplest of things like smiling, blinking, etc. I trust that in a short while she will have full use of her face again!
I love this! This is sooo good for me to hear. I have been struggling with being overwelmed with life, kids, kids, busy busy husband, taking kids where they need to go. They are not over busy, I just have a lot.
This is a good food for my spirit!
Rowan is the same way. I will read him a story and catch him off guard and change a line in the story. He always catches it, laughs hysterically, then has me do it over and over and over and over. Never tires of it. I never tire of it. I love to see his smile and infectious innocense.
Thanks for the reminder!
Someone reposted this to their facebook and I thought it said “Celebrating Monogamy.” It could work for a change in title. Don’t you think?
After 38 years of marriage there is monotony (routines, sameness). They can predict each other’s moves. There is also a deep comfort level in the known, the understood and the unpretentious. The simple everyday things of two people who are one flesh. Nothing short of a miracle.
That quote is a keeper, wrote in my book today. Things I am thankful for…….
sharing a cup of coffee every morning with my husband@ 7 am every weekday
words
conversations with all different ages
my grandson enjoying the popping candy I gave him that cost a dollar
the one son lays on the ground to greet our dog when he comes home from work, the other son has a deep conversation with him, while accusing me of not giving our dog enough attention everyday
setting the table (love it )
The view from my backyard
my neighbours cows
my dtr’s phone call everyday and the sound of her voice
running water
hummingbirds
and the fact that yesterday I was thinking neg. thoughts but today have a new start
beautiful sunsets that are spectacular everyday
God’s faithfulness
My grand dtr. running with her arms straight out
and the diversity of personalities
beautiful music
my son using the word catalyst to describe someone yesterday
thankful to share with you all it’s so contagious……
To be able to return to my office and continue my work.
sometimes my daughter and i play a similar game. she starts walking to somewhere she’s not supposed to go and pretends like she’s not paying any attention to me. i say her name, and she keeps pretending. then i tell her she better come back; still pretending. i raise my voice and shout her name, commanding her to turn around. and she still pretends she’s not listening.
that’s it. that’s our little game.
Wow. I love this about you. I’ll tell you what I’m grateful for… This blog…withoutwax and the man behind that blog!! I know its a constant reminder of pressure/weight/responsibility that is on you and yet…it continues to be a source of nutrients and life for my spiritual growth. Thank you for taking the time to challenge and grow so many people because of the childlike wonder that you demonstrate so powerfully!!
That’s worth memorizing!
I like the “get out the door” routine. Not the yelling for everyone to find their shoes part or the “has your hair ever seen a brush” part – but specifically the time when the kids and I are just about ready to burst through the back door – and “burst” is the right word” – go down through the garage and outside to the car. It’s a great, often frustrating but freeing experience. If I remembered what it was like to be born, I might be able to say this particular routine (and the ridiculous preparation, inherent anticipation and general fluster of it) is a little like being born repeatedly but with family. The three of us hustle and bustle and bicker and then all go out into the world together – every single day. Glory.
One simple thing that I often overlook is getting/giving a hug. I come from a hugging family, so I tend to hug a lot. Whenever I really embrace a hug (no pun intended), I get flooded with warm, fuzzy feelings. And it feels great!
I forget that kids remember everything! My kids remember playing Chutes and Ladders with them.
Now I play with my granddaughter Katherine. I hope this memorie will stay with her forever! It will with me! Thank you Lord!
That is a awesome thought!! On a possible perspective of our Holy God.
and for our perspectives…life more abundant…
thanks for this post.
Waking each morning, walking down the stairs quietly not to wake anyone just so that I could have that little bit of quiet time with me and the Lord before the day begins with its business and all. Then walking up the stairs afterwards to get ready for the day and passing my kids bedrooms greatful God honored me by choosing me to be their mom here on earth.
God is truly a God of Wonders! The simple, even repetitive things of life, all declare the glory of God.
This is beautiful! I was just commenting to my coworkers today how my 6 year old daughter wants me to sing The Revelation Song to her at bedtime over and over and over and. over. and. over. If I try to switch to another song she says “No, mom, sing the one the adults sing on the stage with the microphones at church, about the Lamb.” And so, I sing it again.
One day I will not be so old and tired and I will be able to sing holy, holy, holy, worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb who was slain, blessing and honor, glory and power be to You the only wise King ad infinitum. Can’t wait for that day.