Have you ever noticed that the beauty and joy in a day occasionally depends upon the people you share it with? If the folks you are with say that the day is dull and gray, all you can see is the overcast skies. If you are with someone who can see the sparkles in the air, you suddenly realize that magic is there.
Several years ago my children and I had a precious gentleman friend, a grandfather-type, named Lloyd, who delighted in taking us on excursions to show us different wonders of nature. He would meet us with a bright gleam in his eye and say, "Come here! I want to show you something!" Sometimes the wonder would be a backyard treasure - berries growing on a vine, hot peppers spicing up a garden, a groundhog peeking out of his hole. Sometimes it would be an adventure like a day at the lake fishing from his boat. We noticed that the harder the treasure was to get to, the better it was. Our times with Lloyd were precious. Our lives are richer for having known him. He told me once that even the smallest piece of pie tastes twice as good if you share it with someone.
Lloyd has touched my understanding of the Scriptures. When I read that God would come to Eden to walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening, I can imagine him meeting them with that same bright gleam in his eye. I can almost hear him say, "Come, follow me! I want to show you something!" Can you imagine the beauties that he shared with them? Waterfalls, touch-me-nots, bumblebees, butterflies, a lioness with her young, otters playing in a lake . . . and, it was all brand new and untouched by sin! Those wonders were made for us and await us when we get home.
When I rest my head on my pillow at night, one of my prayers is that I will be the sort of companion who sees the wonder and the magic of life, and shares it.
16 comments:
Your slices reflect your deep connections with other people. You do a great job of capturing their portrait with a word picture. The one you wrote about your father-in-law touched my heart also.
Sorry to delete two. First the commenting posted two, then I noticed I had made a glaring error. It's a great tribute to your friend Lloyd, who at 93 sounds amazing. And equally terrific that you want to pay his love of nature & finding 'new' things forward. I think, if it's noto late, that you might read this to him. Thanks for a great post.
Lloyd sounds like a lovely man. People deep in faith have a wonderful way of looking at the world...which is inspiring.
I totally agree that your daily joy can be found in the people you spend your time with. I like how you connected it to how God found joy in being with Adam and Eve in Eden. :)
Lloyd sounds like my grandmother who had lots of troubled times in her life but chose to share with me all the wonders of nature. People like that touch us with their soul. They leave us something that money cannot buy. Lucky you to have had Lloyd in your life. I am sure you will pass on his positive outlook on "life".
I love your connection to the Abba Father. I think we forget the sparkle in His eye and His delight in the creation far too often.
You are someone who sees wonder and magic, and you share it through your writing. Lloyd sounds like a wonderful person. I love the discoveries he shared with you.
It's so important to have those rich people in your life. I'm sitting across from one right now. Keeps me smiling no matter what :)
Our posts are parallel today. I posted about a teaching partner I had once that passed away. It was her birthday yesterday. Your line, "If you are with someone who can see the sparkles in the air, you suddenly realize that magic is there." was my favorite. I wish I could have come up with it on my own to put in my own post. So true!
Oh, Jama, there is no doubt in my mind that you ARE already "the sort of companion who sees the wonder and the magic of life, and share it." Your slices reflect your soul. Thanks so much for sharing it with us because we are all richer for knowing you!
Everyone needs a Llyod in their life...how lucky for your family that you did!
Wow! This gave me the "goosies". . . people like Lloyd are precious gems for sure. I try to emulate his spirit and when I forget from now on I will think of your dear friend Lloyd. Thanks!
I don't even know what to say. A nice tribute to Lloyd? A glorious parallel to our Lord? A model for how we should look at life? Yes. Yes. Yes. Sparklingly done.
Your post will leave a lasting memory. You are so fortunate to have found Lloyd, but he must have known that it would not have been hard to show the sparkle of life to you and your family. Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful line: ...the sort of companion who sees the wonder and the magic of life". I strive to be that kind of person daily, yet fail miserably. What a touching tribute to Lloyd and what a deeply emotional piece of writing
I love this slice. Lloyd is a person who's philosophy of life that more people should have. Thanks so much for this.
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