Any chance I get to spend time by the ocean is premium time for me. It is amazing how the warm sun on my face, the smell of salty air and the sound of waves crashing in on the shore is the trifecta of soul-centering for me.  I love it!

Our family just wrapped up a family vacation at Ormond Beach in Florida and it was extra special to have both my kiddos, who are now young adults, join us for the week. In several ways, this trip brought healing to me. I felt like it was a gift from God to remind me that He restores what the enemy has taken. He is the great healer and the One who restores my soul. And that trip was a wonderful gift for me.

One morning, my son, Cody, and I were looking out toward the ocean watching a shrimp boat off shore. We were enjoying a few quiet moments together when all of a sudden a dolphin jumped completely out of the water. He splashed back into the water and came right back up again. We watched him do that about a half dozen times and then he was gone.

That one moment made me feel like a kid on Christmas morning! Grinning. Excited. Cheering.  It was exhilarating to watch him leave the natural habitat he calls home and launch himself into the air over and over as if he were almost ‘jumping for joy’. What made him do that? Was he celebrating a good meal? Maybe he had his eye on a ‘lady’ dolphin and he was showing off a little?! Maybe he was just doing that special something that God created him to do? Whatever the trigger the sight was magnificent to behold. And I felt like I was witness to something almost magical.

I would have missed that moment if I’d been in a rush. If I’d been busy on my phone or rehearsing my to-do list. But I was looking. Waiting. Enjoying the moment. And I got a reward!

Colossians 4:2 tell us, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” How often do we miss simple moments that bring us joy? Reminders that God has created a beautiful world for us to enjoy? We are part of that beautiful world. He’s gifted each of us uniquely to live and love and serve. Sometimes it feels natural…and sometimes it feels like we are propelling ourselves out of our natural habitat like that dolphin!

This year I don’t want to miss a single moment that He has planned for me to live and love and serve. And I hope the same for you. And one day when I’m watching and waiting and enjoying the moment and I get to see you doing that something special He created you to do, like that moment with the dolphin, it will be magnificent to behold. I’ll feel like I’m witnessing something almost magical again. And I’ll be cheering you on!