“They teach us to see the very brief beauty of now, to know the landscape of here, to be present in all our pleasures and pains.” ~ Laurie Bestvater, The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason
My rose bush is in bloom! I am so excited to see new buds and beautiful flowers growing right before my eyes. In light of this temporary beauty I decided to clip six newly opened roses to place on my dining room table. One rose represents each member of my family.
Spring is here!
In Arizona, this means that we get to enjoy a very brief window of gorgeous weather and new blooms in nature! Yes, the time is very brief for us and we all know our mild 80 degree weather will soon turn into the normal summer heat! So, instead of focusing on what it is to come, I have decided to focus on the here and now.
The brief beauty of now.
The author of the above quote so beautifully illustrated these words. Her quote really struck my heart at this point in my life, because it is so easy to not focus on the here and now. As humans we tend to live in two types of “time zones” of the mind: the past or the future. If we have had any type of pain or pleasure in the past, we relish in those memories. If we are trying to avoid any future pain or anticipate any future pleasure, we are drawn in to the world of the future. It’s not a terrible thing to think of either time period. Our memories help create who we are today. But, it’s the negative dwellings that lead to worry and fear.
Here! Present!
Children live for the moment. They are our best examples of living the very brief view of now. I love the simplicity of their mindsets, for they generally do not worry about the past or the future. They love to be here, right now, soaking in all of the sensations, experiences, and wonder of life. As a seasoned mother of 18 years, I am still learning to take a step back and watch my children. I watch how they interact with each other and with their surroundings. When life circumstances start to weigh me down on an emotional level, I love that I can come back to the present moment and just focus on my children. Even though I am supposed to be their example of security and love, indirectly, they have taught me to remember what simple trust and security truly is in life.
Glimpses of Now
As you enjoy your days of spring with the children in tow, don’t forget to take the time to step back and just enjoy the here and now. We all need the encouragement and the permission to let go of our worries, our fears, and our unrealistic expectations. Let’s turn this Spring time into a positive time for growth in our hearts, our minds, and our spirits. Let’s breathe in the fresh air of the warm sunny desert while we see the simplicity of life through our children’s eyes. Before you know it, the brief beauty of now will fade. We have to learn to cherish these fleeting moments of young mommy-hood.
Could not agree more! Looking around at the now and seeing the impact our lives make minute by minute is important.
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