Recently my husband and I slipped away for a weekend.
We try to for a couple days every autumn. To soak up the sights of the season. To escape the routines and schedules of every day life. And to reconnect with each other and have a bunch of fun.
It’s a weekend I look forward to all year long.
This year’s trip was beautiful. We traveled to Wisconsin and picked apples and pumpkins and even watched our friend race his race car. We shopped a little, ate a lot, and rested. It was lovely.
The leaves were changing in Wisconsin to bright hues of yellow, amber, orange, and red. I wish there was a way to keep those colors vibrant all year long.
As we drove, the sun was out in all its brilliance. The leaves reflected the sun’s rays, creating some of the most beautiful colors I have ever seen. But something changed when I removed my sunglasses.
The colors weren’t quite as vibrant.
Here, the tint of my sunglasses caused the trees to look a brighter orange and a more vibrant red than they were in reality. I liked the scene I saw through my sunglasses better.
Without my sunglasses:
With my sunglasses:
What a difference, huh?
This got me thinking. What if I chose to see my life and everything around me through “sunglasses” such as these? Where everything was beautiful and vibrant and fresh? What if I chose to see life through eyes that only see the positive, the lovely, and the best? What if I tried to view life and people and circumstances through God’s eyes, and not my own?
Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? But, could I? Would I?
Actually, I think we all could. It might take some effort, but I believe it would be worth it.
3 Ways To See Your Life With Fresh Eyes
1 – Wake up and go to bed grateful.
When you wake up, what’s first on your mind? Consciously think of what you’re thankful for, and thank God for each person, place, or thing that comes to mind. Write them in a journal if you’d like. Do the same before falling asleep at night.
2 – Decide to notice the little things.
Where ever you are, look around you. Take notice of the colors, the scents, the “feels.” Try to soak in little moments throughout each day. Moments that might have seemed insignificant before, but through fresh eyes, they are extraordinary.
3 – Ask God to help you see you and your life through His eyes.
God knows everything about us. And thankfully, He still loves me anyway. When we ask God to open our eyes to see ourselves and the lives He’s blessed us with through His eyes, a brighter, fresher, more beautiful perspective fills our vision. It’s a view we cannot necessarily see on our own.
What would you add to this list? What have you seen through fresh eyes today? I’d love to read your thoughts below.
I now wear my sunglasses not only to protect my eyes from the sun, but also to remind me of the beauty God has placed in my life. Who would have ever thought sunglasses could change a person’s perspective?!
Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Colossians 3:2 MSG
Blessings,
Julie
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Great job, Julie! Truly some valuable writing.
The little things are now all I have…and I do try to treasure them.
Thanks, Andrew. I imagine you treasure them well. I appreciate you, brother, and pray for you often.
Beautiful pictures! Where do you go in Wisconsin? I live by the best views and apple orchards in the state along the Wisconsin River!
Great post!
Julie
This year we went to LaCrosse, Wausaw, and over to Eau Claire. You live in a beautiful state, for sure! So glad you stopped over. Have a blessed week!