By Lois Hewitt

Wonder…feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

Wonder sounds amazing, doesn’t it?  I remember the wonder I had as a child for a new box of crayons, they were magical and beautiful to me.  I remember the wonder I had running through the freshly cut grass on a summers day.  I had wonder for so many things.

Then life sort of pushed wonder out of the picture. I didn’t feel much like having wonder. Somewhere along the way I gave up on having it again.

I had happiness and enjoyed beauty but I learned to not be surprised by it. I didn’t look far outside my bubble for it either.  I became complacent.

In my life, complacency killed wonder. I was so used to being overwhelmed all the time, I shut down in order to just function.  I have learned this is not unique to me, but many people feel the same.

Every morning I get up and make breakfast for my husband and myself. To do that I have to go out on our porch to dump old coffee grinds over the railing. Our little basement apartment has the most spectacular view of the nearby mountains.

On this particular morning just a few days ago, I stepped out to see the most beautiful array of colors in the sky.  Colors that reminded me of a new box of crayons.

Pinks, purples and blues filled the sky with the amazing outline of majestic mountain tops.  I stood not too long and was greeted by the most glorious beams of yellow sunlight.

The temperature was chilly and the gentle touches of sunlight warmed my skin instantly.

The entire thing took less than a minute but it left me breathless.  As I walked back into the apartment, I thought about the last time I was really caught up in the wonder of this beautiful world.

Focusing on troubles and discontentment is so easy to do nowadays. It is everywhere.  I write a lot about how despondent I become when my view is on the happenings of the world.

Aware, we must be. But maybe too aware is not always good.  I have found focusing on the negativity stifles wonder. Fear stifles wonder.  Anger stifles wonder.  Exhaustion stifles wonder.

God created the most amazing sun rises. Their show plays out every single day and I thought of how many passed without earning any of my attention.  Too many I am afraid to say.

How many bird songs have I missed?  How many flowers have gone unnoticed?  How many chances to see the beauty in my fellow man lost because I had my head down thinking of my to do list.

As I get older, my soul longs for wonder.  I want to be in awe again.  Even my relationship with Jesus went through a desert season.  I did not have wonder and awe for all He has done for me and all the beauty He provides every day.

I want to linger in my life now.  I want to drink in the beauty. I want to be childlike when I see a bird or a flower. I want to be in awe of people and not afraid. 

I want to be in awe of my God who brings forth a bounty of goodness every day.  When I say God is awesome, I need to mean it and not just say the words. I need to feel the awesomeness and fall in love with the wonder.

Jaded, I have been too long. Now is the time to release those feelings in exchange for wonder and awe. What a sweeter life it shall be to see the beauty all around.  Amazing, I feel better already!

Let the wonder of God’s gifts and goodness cover you like a blanket, warm and safe and cozy.  Let’s bring wonder back!