Today was a beautiful day with hints of the upcoming spring in the air. Would be easy to get an early case of spring fever from the day’s warmth. Saw some lilly of the valley bulbs pushing up through the grass by the driveway. The birds were singing, happy to be feeding in the sunshine’s warmth. The squirrels were playing tag in the old oak down the street. The sky was winter blue. Father Sky sketched no clouds on his blue sky canvas.

I was sitting contentedly in the porch swing marveling at how little it takes to make me happy — chewing gum, a pint jar of sweet tea, songbirds, hot coffee, dandelion blooms, a little dog and a fat cat, all within my reach — ordinary things that add magic to my life. And I have to add children and grandchildren, a roof over my head, and you can name the rest, ordinary gifts of an ordinary life from a loving God. Who wants to be ordinary in today’s extraordinary world? Me!

Living an ordinary life gives us time to slow down and enjoy life’s simple pleasures that are forgotten in our never ending pursuit of happiness. Ngoanbibo writes, “Ordinary happiness becomes a beacon of light in the darkness, a reminder that even in the face of life’s inevitable end, there is joy to be found in the simple act of being to live.”

Our ordinary moments of life become our most treasured memories. When I look back on my marriage with Chief, my favorite memories revolve around just living a normal day. My heart longs for those simple moments with all my children and Chief, sitting around the kitchen table, weekend trips to the house here in Roanoke, the children and their puppies, my youngest and his cats, swing sitting with his sister in her gazebo next door.

The wondrous ordinary moments of life that we need to be grateful for are the ones we take for granted, daily pleasures that remind us to slow down and enjoy life’s simple moments. Bible scripture tells us to focus on living an ordinary life that is God-centered. Romans 12:1-2 reads, “Present your everyday life as an offering to God.” We can glorify God by finding meaning and purpose in the routine of daily life. Elkhart Toille writes, “The more you are focused on time — past and future — the more you miss the now, the most precious thing there is.”

When we live an ordinary life with God we live a life of love and follow the example of Jesus. I think God speaks to us on ordinary days, teaching us to be thankful for the simple things, telling us to find contentment in our everyday life. Be content with who you are. We don’t all have to stand out in the crowd, we can work contentedly behind the scenes finding God’s glory in everyday tasks.

“The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children.” ― G.K. Chesterton