When I woke up this morning, I already knew it was going to be a bit dreary. It stormed all night and the thunder woke me up quite a few times throughout the night, not to mention Thor, our big Carolina dog, pacing back and forth through the room. I can’t hardly hear anything while I am asleep, but his claws tapping on the hardwood floors and him licking himself like a cat, surely wake me up like no other!
I decided to go out on the porch to read my devotions, bible and sit with God. It was really cool and felt amazing! So much better than the temps we had in May where some days were just so dry and hot, some days reaching 102 degrees. It was raining and as I was sitting, I really took in the morning.
The rain was falling lightly, the trees were blowing in the wind, leaves fluttering like millions of butterflies, different shades of green all around, birds chirping and tweeting in the midst of a beautiful morning, pink, blue and white hydrangeas blooming gorgeously soaking up water from nature.
Stillness.
Quietness.
Peacefulness.
Serenity.
How many times do we really allow ourselves to experience that?
Yesterday was a day for me to get in a workout or a run, and it was a bit of a battle. I was trying to sort through my head a way to make it happen, and on top of that, my mind was coming up with small excuses. My husband, got dressed to go, which made it a bit easier for me to do the same and Constance, our 10 year old followed. As soon as he got her bike in the back of his SUV, it started to rain lightly.
It would have been so easy to just cancel and go back in, but we kept going. We got the the trails, pumped the tires of the bike, decided we were doing this in the rain to get our run in. And that’s what we did.
Even though the run wasn’t my best and I was struggling for some reason, I was having a hard time breathing, but I tried my best to look around to take in the beauty of the evening as the rain fell.
How many times do we miss out on the beauty of everything around us, replacing it with busyness, distractions, and things that we feel that will bring us pleasure and peace. We don’t allow our eyes to truly be opened in order to see what is around us.
There was a time when I couldn’t see this. It was right in front of me, but I couldn’t see it. Trees were just trees I took for granted. I heard the birds, but I wasn’t hearing them. It was a noise that I was just able to block out. I didn’t slow down to really soak in the sounds of the rain, therefore I never enjoyed it.
Since I have a hearing loss, I can’t hear rain most times until I walk outside anyhow, I would get ready for work like any normal day, then open the door to leave and see it pouring down rain. I would get so annoyed because keeping my hair straight mattered the most especially having just styled it.
We ladies know straight hair and rain does not go well at all!
Considering we ran almost 3 miles in the rain yesterday evening, my hair got soaked. I only had on a visor, allowing my natural curls a good refreshing from nature. I have come a long way to becoming more open to life and have allowed myself to be its truest version.
I have said this many times around here, but I am going to say it again, take time to see and enjoy the beauty all around you.
It’s so easy to live day to day waiting for the next to come, living in a mundane cycle, dreading certain parts or days. Is it because we have not been enjoying each day we have been given or able to see it as an actual gift?
Each day we have been given is a new gift of life, something to be grateful for and cherished, not something to dread. Even if we have demanding jobs, full time careers, children, spouses, family or animals that need us. Your very being matters and is so important. You were not created to just go, go, go, from one thing to the next without taking time to slow down.
God is all around us and he created all this beauty for Him to enjoy as well as for us to enjoy. Its okay to slow down. Good for you even.
He is an amazing artist, be sure take some time to view the masterpiece. And the best thing, it is absolutely free! We don’t have to spend $100k to see it everyday. In case you didn’t know, yes, there are many paintings that are over $200k, but the one in front of you is far more valuable. Its 3D, interactive, changes, grows, has the ability to calm us and so much more.
Go take a look, its beautiful!
Much Love,
Crystal Keefer
Charleston Artist | Writer | Photographer 