Can We See Extraordinary Beauty in the Ordinary?
What Do You See?
Others may see a broken down and frail old lady; wrinkles that seem to surpass even the number of years she's lived. Just an old lady they think, as they scurry by quickly, going about their day. If only they looked a little closer. Slowed down just long enough to sit next to her and do the unthinkable; put down their phone. They might have seen the sparkle that still vibrantly shone in her eyes. They may have realized the many lines and wrinkles that surrounded her mouth were indeed created from 88 years of smiles and laughter shared.
The memories all bottled up in her mind, a bit jumbled now by her years. A lifetime of beautiful stories meant to be shared, that sadly will one day pass, along with her.
Today though, she smiles at the little boy's tears that instantly stop, as the young father picks him up in his arms, swinging him round and round, making silly noises like that of an airplane. She laughs in unison with the young boy as his mother brings him a new ice cream, no longer covered in dirt! A beautiful sight I must admit and one I almost missed. I'm so thankful for that short moment in time I chose to stop, sit down and put away my own phone. I would have never experienced such beauty, heard such sweet laughter.
This beauty surpasses even my own understanding as I write this. I saw love and joy in the sparkle of her eyes; it seemed to take up residence there, like one does in a home. I saw the meaning of real beauty that day. It was in her smile, the sound of her sweet laugh, and the beauty that lived in each and every wrinkle of time, that now lived on her face. Her name was Faith, fitting it seems, as she gave me the faith to look at the ordinary that day and see beauty where I never had looked before.
The next time you find yourself thinking beauty only exists on the pages of magazines or some far off exotic place, slow down just long enough, and with a touch of faith, choose to see the beauty that lives all around you. I promise it's everywhere, but you must be willing to look at the ordinary with retrained eyes, to see what the Faith's of this world can teach us all.
She gave me the most beautiful and priceless gift that day, eyes to see true and lasting beauty, found in the ordinary. Extraordinary exists in the ordinary and that is where you will find Faith.
I hope to one day see my friend Faith again, see the sparkle in her eyes and hear the sweetness of her laughter. Until then I'm taking the time to slowdown and find the beauty that lives all around us. The beauty found in what the world might consider to be just ordinary. The kind of beauty, Faith taught me.
Copyright © 2017 Theresa Gober
Catch up with Theresa on Twitter: Theresa Gober @coachgoober
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Read additional offerings from Theresa:
Letting Go
The Last Game
The Bully
Lost Sunshine - A Christmas Story