I spent a few weeks in Togo a couple of years ago. I’d never been to Africa before—had never expected to go.
As part of a small mission team, I went to encourage the workers at a newer hospital. While visiting with one of the nurses, she told me that a friend had given her this piece of advice about living in Togo—look for beauty each day. She said that life can be harsh in Togo, but beauty is out there…even if we don’t always notice it. When we do, we need to see it as a gift from God.
I thought about that this week as I walked up the driveway at home. I glanced to the side of the front garden area and saw that my hibiscus bush was blooming–it was just covered with BIG, bright red blossoms! The bush is in the back of the garden area, behind a large rock and a small tree. (We didn’t think about how obscured the bush would be in that spot when we planted it.) Most of the year, I hardly notice the bush. But when those blossoms start opening, it’s hard to miss. And it made me smile…
You don’t have to live in Togo to see that life can be tough! The challenge to look for beauty each day is a good one. I needed to be reminded of that. The old saying goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” So where can I turn my eyes to behold beauty?
–I see it in my Mom’s aging hands. Hands that held me and comforted me as a child.
–As my husband and daughter stand side by side at the sink, washing up the dishes after supper.
–The joyful smiles of my precious grandbabies when they come to Grandpa and Grandma’s house. I love to see those faces!
Yes, beauty is out there, if we only have eyes to see. So, where do you see it today?