What I So Easily Miss....

I've been reminded in the past few weeks how necessary it is to make time for slow moments. I easily fall into the habit of pressing harder, walking faster, packing more things into my day....

There's so much to miss when I fall into a hurried pace!

As I walked past a lovely little patch of golden sunflowers poking out of a wooded lot, I decided to slow down, stop and take a closer look. And I found some delightful surprises, that I almost missed.

 Here's what delighted my eyes:

• The colors of Yellow were beautifully nuanced from a bright lemony yellow to a more deeply golden hue. How beautifully they are juxtaposed next to the blue of the sky and green of the foliage! I wouldn't have noticed that, had I not looked closely.

• The small centers of these flowers were, surprisingly, both green and orange! I could never have noticed that had I walked by without slowing to see what was waiting to be seen.

• And I captured a busy little bumblebee at work, going from flower to flower, buzzing a little tune.

Oh, it seems very ordinary, doesn't it? But, there are little surprises waiting to be seen and enjoyed. These, to me, are small gifts that we can receive and unwrap as we stop and take pleasure in them. They remind me of the way that God has created even the smallest details of our world with beauty and joy - for the sake of beauty and joy.

After my slowed down pace, I painted a little celebration of the surprises I enjoyed! I know I need a constant reminder to slow down on purpose. It's in these slower moments that I can "hear" the quiet voice of God speaking through beauty and wonder.

Slow down YOUR pace and enjoy watercolor painting! Find out how to indulge in colorful fun, learn at your own pace, and create beautiful paintings of your own! Click this link for more information!