May
5
2017

Taking Time To Notice

Posted in Daily Living | Leave a comment

I saw her grocery shopping with her mother.
That in itself was not unusual.
What was unusual was that this little girl came prepared.
This little girl came with her own shopping cart.

She was pushing a plastic shopping cart that many children use for their pretend play.
She followed along behind her mother.
Her mother talked to her up and down every aisle.
I noticed that her mom was putting some lighter things in the little girl’s shopping cart.

One of the lighter things was a box of crackers.
I smiled when I noticed that the little girl had already opened the box and was eating them.
Shopping is hard work.
Sustenance was needed.

Her mom needed one thing down a certain aisle and told the little girl to wait.
Wait right here so Mommy can see you, the little girl’s mother said.
The little girl obeyed and stayed right where her mother could see her.
I was already in line putting my food on the moving belt to be scanned.

I could see the little girl and the mom clearly from where I was standing.
I saw another woman who appeared to be looking for something.
She did not seem to be too familiar with this grocery store.
She was looking up and reading the signs above the aisles.

The little girl watched her intently.
The little girl looked as if she was waiting to smile at the woman.
Perhaps she wanted the woman to notice her and see that she was a shopper, too.
The woman was too preoccupied to notice the little girl.

Finally, I noticed the woman look down at eye level.
The little girl was still looking up waiting for her to smile.
I looked at the woman and she had no smile on her face.
Even in its resting state, her face looked angry.

The little girl noticed it, too.
Her big smile, that was meant for the woman, faded.
The woman had no idea the little girl was waiting for her to smile.
The woman walked away; the little girl had no smile on her face.

It was not that the woman scowled at the little girl.
The woman did nothing that was in any way inappropriate or unkind.
That was the issue.
The woman simply did nothing.

I have heard an expression and have even used it from time to time.
They can go a long way on that compliment.
A compliment, sincerely given, can sustain another person for a long time.
That sincere compliment can fortify them to press on.

I decided that people can go a long way on a smile, sincerely shared, as well.
A sincere smile can sustain, fortify, bless, and encourage.
A sincere smile can lift the spirits of another and change their mood.
A sincere smile ripples out with blessings.

That brief encounter showed me that noticing small things is vastly important.
Especially when it comes to our children.
How easy it is to criticize and point out the wrong things they do.
What would happen if the good things, the nice things, and the little things were noticed?

We are finite creatures without the loving capacity of our Heavenly Father.
However, we are quite capable of seeing the things that are done wrong.
Can we purpose to be even more intentional about the things that are done right?
Imagine the difference that would make in our day to day life and the lives of our children.

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Intentionality.
Noticing the nuances.
Noticing the subtleties.
Noticing the whispers.

It is easy to see what is wrong.
It is easy to see what is negative.
It stirs us up.
It pushes our buttons.

It is much harder to find the good in a person or situation.
It is easy to complain.
It is easy to criticize.
It is easier to simply not notice.

The little girl caught my eye after the woman walked away.
She looked right at me.
I smiled at her as her mother was coming towards her.
You have a good little shopper with you, I said so the little girl could hear.

The little girl beamed.
Her mom put her hand on the little girl’s head.
She is my helper, the mother said.
The little girl hugged her mom’s legs before they walked to the next aisle.

Simply noticing and taking the time made all the difference.
The little girl felt important for a few minutes.
The little girl heard that she was a good little shopper and her mom’s helper.
The little girl can go a long way on that compliment.

Who can you encourage today?
Who needs you to see the good in them instead of pointing out the negative?
Who needs help to press on?
How can you be more intentional to notice the small things?

We all need this reminder.
Life is busy.
However, a smile or a compliment takes only a few seconds.
The ripple effect of that smile or compliment may never be fully known.

Try it.
Intentionality is a wonderful thing.
Remember: they can go a long way on that compliment.
And you may just be the one to notice.

Whispers of His Movement and Whispers in Verse books are now available in paperback and e-book!

http://www.whispersofhismovement.com/book/

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