Please welcome fellow author, Robin Melvin. Robin’s book Uncover Your Divine Design has just recently been released – a wonderful glimpse of all our Father intended us to be. She also has a blog “Robin’s Nest” – sound somewhat familiar? I love sharing her insights with you on today’s View from the Sparrow’s Nest. 

“There is a saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the ‘present.’” ~ Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda

My granddaughter Madison was three years old when my flower garden drew her in. She stood in front of a rosebush and leaned close. Cupping a Barbie-pink blossom with both hands, she nestled her face into its petals and breathed deep.

“Meema, your woses smell so so good.”

I knelt in the dirt, yanking weeds. “Madison! Don’t smash it!”

The day before, I returned from a relaxing weekend trip to a cluttered home: toys tossed about the living room, wet towels on the bathroom floor, dirty dishes with last night’s supper stuck to them.

And the weeds in my flower garden annoyed me too. I have to do everything around here. I live with the laziest people on earth. And why am I raising my granddaughter? I, the victim. I, the under-valued. I, so sweet and blessed just yesterday at a women’s retreat. I. I. I.

In the middle of my pity party, I realized it was a bit too quiet. Looking up, I saw a rosebush stripped almost bare. My face flushed hot. Angry words teetered on my tongue.

Then I saw Madison twirl.

With her face turned toward the sun and her pigtails sticking straight out, she raised her little arms and palms to the sky. Silky rose petals fluttered from her hands and floated to the ground. Shades from pink to white blanketed the brown mulch and wound around two more nearly-naked bushes. Dizzy from her dance, Madison wobbled and then steadied herself. Her blue eyes wide-open, she admired her work.

“Oh, Meema. Isn’t it bee-u-tee-ful?”

Pausing to watch my granddaughter changed my toxic thoughts. My self-focus and snarky attitude lifted. I saw my brown-haired, blue-eyed little burst of energy as a gift. Though it was sometimes difficult and exhausting, I was blessed to tuck her in at night with stories, hugs, and kisses while her daddy was deployed with the Air Force. It was a privilege to say the words she wouldn’t hear from her biological mother, who left because she wasn’t ready to be a parent.

“Yes, Madison Grace. You are absolutely beautiful.”

Like the weeds in a flower garden, life’s messes will distract us from what’s most important. If we aren’t careful, in a nano-second, our blessings become burdens. When it’s all about me-me-me, we whine and blame and complain about my plans, my comfort, my happiness. But a world centered on ourselves is quite small and it yanks the joy right out of life.

Somewhere, I read this quote: “Life isn’t made of years; it’s made of moments.”

My moments with Madison remind me to grab life with both hands, breathe deep, and be thankful. To not allow my difficult challenges choke out my daily blessings. I am reminded that roses grow back, and children grow up. Boom. Just like that. And it’s so easy to miss it.

We will always have situations that tempt us to mumble and grumble. So each morning and throughout the day, let’s aim to choose right thoughts and attitudes. Let’s  pause and breathe a prayer. Let’s remember the promise of Romans 12:2 and change ourselves by changing the way we think. Because we don’t miss one more beautiful moment.

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