Gratitude for Nature

Leaves, flowers, grass, trees, streams, dirt, mountains, sand, rocks… God made it. All of it. And He said that it was good. We live in this big, beautiful world that He created for us, yet we often neglect to even pay attention to it.

When was the last time you stopped to study the details of a tree or a flower? Or let your bare feet feel the grass or the mud? Or skipped rocks across a lake? It is becoming easier and easier for us to get lost in virtual worlds through our ever-present technology, causing us to miss out on the actual, physical world and all of its wonders around us. It can be very disorienting, and I believe Satan loves it when we lose touch with reality.

Friends, let’s be intentional about paying attention to what is real and natural and good. God didn’t have to make this world so beautiful, but He did. Let’s not miss it! Parents, let’s make sure our children don’t miss it either. Encourage them to look around, to spend time outside, to go exploring in nature. Point out the tiny details of leaves and flowers and tree bark to your little ones. Ask them to tell you what they see all around them. Slow down. Engage their senses. Collect some of the beauty and bring it inside your home. And thank our God for all of it.