The other day I observed a woman at Lowes (grocery store) with what I would guess was a three year old girl in her grocery cart. As they passed the cookie section, the child asked for cookies and her mother told her “no.” The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss, and the mother said quietly, “Now Ellen, we just have half of the aisles left to go through; don’t be upset. It won’t be long.”

I passed the mother again in the candy aisle. Of course, the little girl began to shout for candy. When she was told she couldn’t have any, she began to cry. The mother said, “There, there, Ellen, don’t cry. Only two more aisles to go, and then we’ll be checking out.”

I again happened to be behind the pair at the check-out, where the little girl immediately began to clamor for gum and burst into a terrible tantrum upon discovering there would be no gum purchased today. The mother patiently said, “Ellen, we’ll be through this check out stand in five minutes, and then you can go home and have a nice nap.”

After I paid for my groceries, I ran into them in the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her. “I couldn’t help noticing how patient you were with little Ellen…”

The mother broke in, “My little girl’s name is Tammy… I’m Ellen.”

I immediately understood and remembered what it was like when my kids were that age. They weren’t much different than this mother’s daughter and my patience was probably even more thin.

I was so focused on getting through those early years that I’m embarrassed by how little time I truly took time to enjoy them. And what’s even more embarrassing is that I find myself making the same mistakes in other areas of my life as well.

I sometimes get so caught up in living everyday life (rushing to the next meeting, or even the next part of my life), that I forget to enjoy the blessings of God that surround me today.

To anyone who has ever made the same mistake I have made in not looking always looking for His blessings in our lives as they presently are, God tells us these comforting words, “Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go. ” (Joshua 1:9)

Wherever we go! As we rush from one meeting to another, God is keeping up with us and He’s there. As we run from errand to errand, God is with us. As we collapse in bed, God is there. As we look forward to the future, God is with us now. It’s my prayer and heart’s desire that we all take a moment, to enjoy His blessings in our everyday lives and may we never forget that He is always with us!