The Little Things

Our world is constantly throwing the latest news headlines at us. The most recent celebrity drama, newest technology, and horrible disasters headline these news articles. We are always occupied, maybe by these articles, maybe by the events filling up our calendars. With all of this continuous stimulation and always being busy, it's easy to rely on the next "big event" for your happiness. But this kind of happiness is fleeting, it's temporary

I was struggling with this dilemma just a few months ago. I was frequently using social media and scheduled hang-outs to push away these thoughts. Eventually, I gave up. I had to ask God for His joy. God's joy is always present, if you have it, even during bad days, weeks, months, or years. It stays strong through your faith. So, because I asked, God showed me true joy.

It took time for me to come to the realization, but He showed it to me through His creation. Through nature. I started to notice the little things. The way sunsets are different each and every night, different in each and every place. The way stars sparkle on an especially clear night. The way the trees and their leaves on the mountain paint a different picture depending on the season. The way the crickets and toads create a lullaby at night. The way the clouds merge and change, drifting across the blue sky.

All of these things became more beautiful to me. The more I looked, the more I appreciated all of these small blessings.

I tell you all of this to say: God put thought and effort into every little detail of the Earth. Don't let your mind get boggled down by the "big," busy, consuming things of this world. Stop to smell the roses. Start to appreciate the little things.

-Syd