sunrise thoughts 04 October 2015

When you choose the topic of "sunrise thoughts" for a writing challenge for every day of a month, you just might be going into the month hoping for some great sunrise shots to share with others. Well, we're 4 days into the month here in the land of stuckinindiana and YET to have a real "sunrise." The Farmer's Almanac & other sources on the internet provide the sunrise/sunset times. And, an alarm is set to remind me to run out and catch a shot of the sun breaking the horizon each morning of this month. 

This morning the alarm sounded, I grabbed the camera (aka my smart phone) and I ran out the door to get a shot.
Yep, you guessed it... there was nothing but gray clouds. There wasn't even a hint of where that sun might be hiding behind those thick clouds. I walked a few yards to the north and then back to the south. There was nothing but, gray skies. I didn't even bother with a picture and, with disappointment, turned back to walk into the house. But, then I spotted a little one, whom I call "The Little". She'd followed her "DeeDee" to the door and was waiting patiently for me to come back inside. She smiled and waved energetically as our eyes connected.

That very moment, I had my sunrise thought...

Often, when we focus so intently on the precise spot where we want to see beauty, we miss the beauty that is right beside us... just waiting to be seen.

My beautiful sunrise shots this morning are of a 2 1/2 year old who was watching me with loving eyes and genuinely thrilled to see me walking back into the house to see her. Beauty was waiting there for me when I stopped limiting where I wanted to see it... 

I've shared several pictures and quotes on the Facebook page about not missing the beauty around us & beauty in the broken & appreciating the every day blessings. This morning was a great reminder to me that I need to be intentional in that sort of thinking!