I look forward to Thursdays when I can publish thoughts on my spiritual journey and hear the thoughts of others on a weekly basis. It has become a space for an encouraging and fortifying community to come together. We welcome anyone who would like to join us!
For the next couple of months, we are writing about each other's One Little Words. Please join us! If you have a One Little Word this year and would like to explore the spiritual aspect of it, let me know, and I will add you to the schedule! Today's OLW is Irene Latham's word, DELIGHT.
Every time I look and read Irene's word, I smile. What a wonderful word...DELIGHT! It just makes my heart glad. When I think of delight, I think back on when my daughters were toddlers. When something delighted them, their faces lit up. Their eyes sparkled and danced; their smiles widened and showed little white teeth (what there was of them); they gestured enthusiastically at whatever caused the delight. Katie would exclaim, "Butterfwy! Butterfwy!" Libby would pick up little rocks or buckeyes and examine them carefully and delightfully before stuffing them lovingly in her pockets. Their delight came from simple, ordinary things. Things that we somehow forget to notice when we're older. Where does that delight go?
I do not want to lose delight. God has created such a heart-stopping world...brilliant sunsets, inspiring sunrises, squishy babies, stunning rainbows, flashy birds, breathtaking oceans, peaceful lakes, funny friends, loving families, majestic mountains, spring breezes, hopeful flowers, and on and on. Such a creation.
Last week I gazed out at the snowfall outside my sunroom windows, mesmerized. God created that. That magical white mystery - covering branches and rooftops, providing a beautiful backdrop for ruby red cardinals. Delightful. I got to watch it fall with my Spaniel's warm and cozy body pressed up against my folded and blanketed leg, chin propped up on my knee, eyes squeezed shut, completely trusting and sleepy. I had a good book propped open, waiting for me to return. Delightful.
Look at the scripture in the graphic above. God wants to give us the desires of our hearts. He gives them freely. Such creativity in the world! He wants us to delight in that creation, and in Him. In HIM. He is all around us. Little children know that delight. They pay attention to the little things. They see Him everywhere. They are impressed by the ordinary things all around them and are joyful. We need to recapture that if we've lost it.
Thank you for your word, Irene. It is a happy word. It makes me smile. I hope my eyes still sparkle and dance. I hope I still gesture enthusiastically at something that crosses my path. I hope I still feel like collecting treasures and exclaiming over butterflies. Delightful.
“Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.”
― W. Somerset Maugham
― W. Somerset Maugham
“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”
― Kahlil Gibran
― Kahlil Gibran
"You will find truth more quickly through delight than gravity. Let out a little more string on your kite."
-- Alan Cohen
January 14: Carol Varsalona - BELIEVE
January 21: Margaret Simon - PRESENT
January 28: Michelle Haseltine - SELAH
February 4: Justin Stygles - (Blind) FAITH
February 11: Leigh Ann Eck - INTENT
February 18: Irene Latham - DELIGHT
February 25: Violet Nesdoly - MINDFULNESS
March 3: Julieanne Harmatz - ADMIRE
March 10: Holly Mueller - WAIT
March 17: Linda Kulp - SIMPLIFY
March 24: Doraine Bennett - SHINE
March 31: Donna Smith - BOLD
March 17: Linda Kulp - SIMPLIFY
March 24: Doraine Bennett - SHINE
March 31: Donna Smith - BOLD
What a thoroughly delightful post! You have eloquently spoken from the heart every so-true word! Been up most of the night ("under the weather"), thought reading about delightful things would make me feel better before trying to get some rest. Your post did just that! Thank you, too, for the amazing Scripture quote, as well as the other quotes...Time to let out a little more string, for sure. Thank you, as always, for being a gracious hostess. And I'm with you--many thanks to Irene for her uplifting word. God bless you! Again, your reminders about recapturing the sense of childhood delight are much appreciated. Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteDelight is a child's word. I didn't put that into my poem, but , like you, I think about the wonder in a child's eyes. That is the delight God wants for us everyday.
ReplyDeleteButterfwy! Butterfwy! :) Thank you for sharing that. Your post made me remember my trip last year to Europe. It was such a long day traveling over, and we were with a group of too-cool teenagers. I was tired, irritable... one of the teachers as soon as we landed looked out the window, exclaimed, "We're in Germany!" The delight in her voice was exactly how I want to greet the world. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGod has created such a heart-stopping world..Yes, Holly this is so true. My eyes have seen His beauty in every season. This ability to find positive joy has been a delightful experience but did I realize that the word delight was around the corner for me? Now, I will couple my word believe with Irene's word delight to smile more often at what I see.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Holly, and lovely word, Irene. I must admit, I've been looking forward to writing about delight as soon as I saw it on the list!
ReplyDeleteI was tickled to read this post, and tickled to write about "delight". We need to remember to delight in all the gifts each day! Thanks for a truly delightful post, Holly, and a truly delightful OLW, Irene!
ReplyDeleteLove this post. So many things to delight in! And you reminded us of so many. I'm drawn to the words of your scripture . . . delight in the Lord and wondering how to do that more often. Perhaps acknowledging as you did that all the beauty surrounding us comes from Him is a good place to begin.
ReplyDeleteDelightful post! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a nice post. I am not religious, but I enjoyed reading it very much! I love the "delight" topic, too!
ReplyDeleteI love the delight of toddlers and little ones when they explore and discover new things. It makes me smile when my grandson asks funny questions and laughs with glee when he sees an animal. ;)
ReplyDeleteDelight is a wonderful word!
ReplyDeleteEnJOYed reading your post!
I like how you are encouraging folks to write about each other's OLW.