While I know it does not really go with my motorcycle riding, stock car loving persona, one of my favourite things about spring is the smell of fruit trees.
As we walk around the neighbourhood, the air is scented with apple, cherry and plum. It is beautiful. I grew up in Moose Jaw and my family spent a lot of time in Crescent Park among the flowers and the fruit trees, so the smell always brings back happy memories.
Noticing little details every day is important to our happiness and well-being, especially in times of uncertainty and stress. It is easy to become excited about a concert, a holiday or a sporting event, but the problem is that those things are relatively rare. If we do not notice and enjoy the smaller blessings that are around us every day, then we miss out on much of the joy of life.
Genesis chapter one describes how God created the heavens and the earth (verse 1), light and dark (verses 3-5), water and dry ground (verses 9-10), vegetation and trees (verse 11-13) and eventually humans (verse 26).
After each day, God looked and saw that everything he created was good (see also verse 31). What we have been given is not to be raced past without notice. Rather, it is a good gift to be seen and enjoyed.
I hope you take some time to smell the fruit trees, or the roses. Go out at night and look at the stars. Appreciate the birds singing outside your window. Watch the sunrise or sunset. These beautiful things are all around us.
All we have to do is just notice and appreciate them.
