Recently, on a beautiful summer night, I decided to drive to the beach to listen to the crashing waves and watch for seals swimming in the ocean.

As I kicked my flip flops off and headed to the shoreline, I noticed something in the sand down by the water.

I walked in excited anticipation of what gift God had in store for me. I reached the water’s edge and saw that someone had created a beautiful turtle in the sand. I was overwhelmed at this totally unexpected surprise.

I stood there reflecting on the person who sculpted this magnificent animal. He/she was obviously a lover of life… someone who found great joy in moments… someone who cherished time on God’s shore and left his/her joy behind for others to enjoy.

I stood there noticing every grain of sand… every carefully placed stone and shell.

James Bryan Conant said:
“Take a walk with a turtle. And behold the world in pause.”

Pauses in our lives are so important. They give us time to reflect on the “now” …and on our many blessings. Pauses stop the clocks of our lives and replace them with deep breaths… pauses replace our calendars with sandpails…racing with standing still… craziness with peace.

We’ve all heard “Slow and steady wins the race.”
Yet life isn’t a race. We only seem to make it one. The turtle asks us, “Then, why are you running?”

We make ourselves so tired …so worn out… so burdened… that we often fail to notice and appreciate some of the greatest gifts along life‘ s way.

“Be grateful for the little things. One day you’ll realize they were the big things.”

I thank God for the gift of this evening surprise. I pray I think of this turtle often and remember it’s valuable lessons.

“Come to Me, all
you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
1 John 2:17