Do You See What I See

sun highlighting frost

The morning sun rising over the hill, peeking through the trees, highlighting the frosty fringe on the pines and making the frost on the grass sparkle. Do you see? Maybe not, so let’s take a closer look.

a frost-rimmed ash leaf

Back when we were looking for photos of frost for the photo hunt, they were hard to get. Now we have little snow, but more frost. Delightful, it is, when Mother Nature and Jack Frost get together and work their magic. I see that winter morning beauty.

frosty sparkles on dormant grass

I see a lot of other beauty in my world too. I see the sparkles sprinkled on life by having friends and family that are always there for you, and for whom you are there. I see our little “girls group” rallying around when any of us are in need. I see the generous giving of caring and time. I see comfort in knowing we are all here for each other.

a practical and not beautiful sprinkler head, made lovely by Jack Frost

I see too trials and tribulations in life, but I also see the strength to withstand and to deal with it. I see beauty in the mundane, the ordinary, under certain circumstances.

frost-rimmed rooster

I am not a pollyanna, however. Some days, some hours, I do not see the beauty. Some days, some hours, I feel the weight and need to take deep breaths. Some days, I have no extra to give and want only to not be needed. Just for awhile.

gazing ball sprayed with frost

Some days, some hours I need to remind myself that none of us is promised a rose garden. Each of us has burdens to bear. How we deal with those burdens is entirely up to us. No one “makes” us be or behave a specific way, no one but ourselves. So some days, some hours, I whine and I complain. Because some days, some hours, I need to vent.

the pond with icy froth

Some days, some hours we need to look more closely to see the beauty. Do you see the spot of orange in the lower part of the picture above? Do you see the goldfish hovering, storing his energy, dealing with winter?

under the ice, the beauty

Some days we just need to hover. To spend some time in a near-dormant state. To regroup and gather our forces so that the beauty becomes more obvious to us again. Some days we need our own safe harbors to shelter us.

an umbrella protecting the froth

Just as the umbrella of water protects the froth underneath, just as the umbrella of water prevents the pond from freezing over and keeps the pond oxygenated so the fish can survive, sometimes we linger in our safe harbors. Gathering strength so we can break free of the malaise and see the beauty in our lives again.

For all of you I wish you enough – enough beauty to strengthen you and guide you through your days. Enough to see the good sides of life.