Happy Sabbath, church family!
We've recently welcomed a dog into our little family! It's been a fun adjustment that I’ve longed for, for a while. One of the highlights so far was taking her to the beach. She was the happiest little pup, jumping around in the sand, exploring everything, and seemingly finding excitement in absolutely everything around her, both people, smells, sounds and textures.
Watching her was quite entertaining. For her, the beach wasn't just a beach. Every footprint, every little wave, every handful of sand was something worth investigating. She wasn't thinking about what needed to happen next, how long we had been there, or what else was on the schedule. She was simply enjoying the moment.
It got me thinking about how easily we lose that ability as adults. Somewhere along the way, we become so caught up in the busyness of life that we forget to enjoy it. Our days become filled with appointments, responsibilities, work, study, family commitments and endless to-do lists. We're often thinking about tomorrow before we've even finished today. We rush from one thing to the next, sometimes forgetting to stop and appreciate what's right in front of us.
And I wonder how many beautiful little moments we miss along the way. The laughter around the dinner table, a beautiful sunset, a conversation with someone we love, a quiet morning, or simply having nowhere in particular to be. We can spend so much time looking forward to the next big thing that we forget how much goodness there is in the ordinary things.
There's a verse in Ecclesiastes 3:12–13 that I love:
"So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God."
I love that thought. Enjoying life, appreciating what we have and finding joy in the everyday is a gift from God. He hasn't simply created us to work, achieve, accomplish and get through another week. He wants us to experience the goodness of the life He has given us.
Perhaps that's one of the beautiful things about Sabbath, too. It's an opportunity to pause, put some of the busyness aside and actually enjoy the life God has blessed us with. To spend time with Him, with the people we love, and to appreciate the blessings that can so easily become part of the background of our everyday routines.
This week, let’s focus on joy, contentment, and the little moments. Slow down a little. Enjoy the sunshine, take the scenic route, spend a little longer around the table, laugh a little more, and don't be so quick to rush through the moments that make life beautiful. Because sometimes, the greatest blessings aren't found in the big things we're waiting for, but in the little things happening right in front of us.
May we never become so busy living life that we forget to enjoy the gift and blessing it is.
With peace and love, Malin Andersen Mariner
