When our local elementary school closed unexpectedly due to a power outage last week, the day that I had planned looked nothing like I had anticipated! I found it challenging to balance the class load of my high school senior taking college courses from home, my eight and five year olds who really find the thrill of the day in interrupting everyone else’s life with goofy stories and endless questions, and an 11 week old puppy who loves attention and will do almost anything to get it, including eating the kitchen cupboards and leaving random puddles for me to discover with my socks!
The evening prior to this chaos included a study of Scripture regarding significance with a group of ladies from church. It was of no surprise then that as I muddled through the following day attending to each task as it sprouted from the necessities of those in our home, I found myself wondering, “Could my life ever be one of significance? I feel so overwhelmed just completing the mundane tasks before me.”
I got the answer to that question shortly after dinner that same evening while I cleaned the food-laden hands of my five year-old son as he declared, “Look at the TREES, Mommy!! Aren’t they beautiful? They must be LADY trees!” 🙂 I paused to consider the notion that when he sees something of beauty, he relates it to the feminine gender which is a trait that I believe uncommon in such a young tyke. I smiled at my littlest man, appreciating the blessings he brings to my life with the words that flow freely and humorously from him every day!
The fact that he readily recognized the beauty in trees should not have surprised me at all since I see that as a common trait in him. He notes the beauty of the sun as it eclipses the hill; the smile on the face of the baby passing by in her mother’s arms; the lyrics and melody of the song on the radio; and the dresses that I wear (at least on special occasions!).
As I contemplated his notion of beautiful trees being lady trees later that evening, I realized that he sees the BEAUTY and SIGNIFICANCE in what I’ve been seeing as the every day; the mundane. And it became clear that he esteems ME in the same way; beautiful and significant … not just because I’m a lady, but also because I’m his MOM – his object of love, a person who helps him through his day, one who rescues him from himself! (And if you KNOW him, you know that last one is very necessary!)
Yes ~ I have my answer. Me, my life; I AM significant already. I need only to LOOK with fresh eyes; the same eyes that see the beauty in a tree, a sunset, a baby’s smile, a song, and a dress. Those fresh eyes will give me a new lease on life every morning I wake up as I allow myself the blessings of seeing beauty and significance in my everyday surroundings.
What can you see differently today? I’d love to hear about it!
Thru Fresh Eyes 
Significance, the need to be remembered – to make our mark here – has been on my mind too. The ability to see beauty in that which surrounds us on a day-to-day basis is a gift. We don’t need to travel the ends of the earth to find it. We make our mark everyday by how we interact with our children, family, and friends.
Well said, Carol! I agree wholeheartedly. I’m trying to be the mom that is remembered with fond thoughts long after I’m gone, so in that regard I’m looking for the MANY little things we can do that come together to create lasting memories and legacy. =)
Lady trees. . . how insightful! A treasure you have there! 🙂
He provides such a wonderful outlook on life and I thank God every day for him. He was born via emergency C, very blue and lifeless, so his life itself is miraculous. I have no doubt that he has experienced Christ in a manner that awaits me and I am sure that his perspective is based on his exposure to the Eternal!! =)