The Beauty of the Little Things

How do you feel about the ordinary, the little, the sometimes overlooked and underrated?

Aren't those gossamer wings gorgeous?

I have been unusually aware of and interested in the above mentioned categories lately. Take these pictures for example. They aren't earth-shattering, and some you might not find attractive at all. That's OK. Truthfully, as I look at some, I am not sure that what I saw when I clicked the pic, is properly conveyed by the time the photo is posted. But I am going to attempt to share some thoughts anyway...

As my Honey and I wandered around during his first week at home, (have I mentioned he is just a bit stir-crazy?) taking pictures of just about everything...we were inspired to take pictures of the "little things". Things that were actually little, and tiny and would usually be walked over, on or past without notice. Also, little in the sense that they may seem ordinary. It was on our minds to find the beauty through the lens if we could. It was very theraputic. It's the the little, the simple that have been especially noticed by me of late, and have moved me to giving thanks. Thanks for crazy things like my hubby's joy at text messaging (now he's sending all sorts of romantic and silly texts), blue skies, living in a beach town, a teen who can loves a foot rub and turns all chatty when he gets one, a little pooch who just inexplicably adores me and follows me around EVERYWHERE! A Mom who still gets up at 3, 4, 5 and all other hours of what I call "0 dark thirty" and prays for me and for all the rest of her kids, and the world at large, coffee, my church, and silly little weeds, and mushrooms that made pretty photos and the fact that God answers our prayer in all sorts of wonderful, zany ways!

Yup! This really is a weed. Don't ask where it grows, just appreciate the blooms with me! :)

I needed some activity and fresh air, so I said "I'm going for a walk, be back in a few". Honey decided he would come along, too. He brought the camera of course! It was amazing the way the little weed flowers down the side of the road begged for their picture to be taken! You could almost hear them "Oooh! Oooh! Pick me!" So we did!

More little weeds that usually are nothing to be excited to see growing. But when they bloom, who can resist? Apparently not me! ;)



Now this really is a weed to not be thrilled to have growing, but when you see these little blooms they start to put out, there's just something about them that says "Notice me". And this will sound weird, but I was telling my husband that when I see some of these tiny plants and flowers, every since I was a child, I always think it looks like a little minitarure world suitable for fairy creatures. You can't really appreciate that from this picture, but I am hoping maybe you can imagine from ones you have seen.

Extremely small mushrooms, in a bed of pine needles. Love them! I can't explain it, but I really do!

Roxy, my oldest's German Shepherd. She is a mixed blessing. At this moment she is surveying her domain.

This is a group of trees next door at my bil and sil's place. They are wonderful people I am daily grateful for. This group of trees grew in this perfectly symmetric way through no human interference. I have been finding many, many examples like this recently which speaks to me about God's order. He's sovreign and as my husband likes to say "Large and in charge", that's something to hold onto when the present looks a little chaotic. We are His, we are made in His image, and He makes beauty and He does things in order and for a purpose. That means we can not only expect Him to be at work in such a fashion, but that we should expect to be doing a little of that ourselves! Making beauty where ever we go, and living with purpose!

I hope you never look at weeds and mushrooms the same way again! Thanks, Ya'll!