Guest Blog by

Morgan Klefeker.

This past summer, I moved to Austin for an internship. It was meant to be an exciting and fun adventure in my life but it proved to be a much quieter and somewhat boring experience. Because of the pandemic, there was very little to do outside of the home and so I had to find joy in the tiny house I was staying in.

But during that season, God showed me that He is in the midst of big adventures and quiet moments.

I began to take notice of the sunrise, a good cup of coffee, a laugh shared with a loved one. These moments were something I had experienced countless times but it felt especially beautiful when I took notice of them.

In the Genesis story, we see God creating the entire universe and after each creation, He stood back, smiled wide, and said “It is good.”

Gratitude is joining hands with God and saying “This, this is very good.” In that way, it connects us to God, opens the door for His presence, and urges our hearts to worship Him. In finding the beauty of every moment, I also became aware of God’s presence in that moment. 

What would it be like if we lived life in this way? Much like a child, we could gaze at God’s creation full of wonder, joy, and gratitude. Even in the hardships of life, we can still take notice, show gratitude, and find the beauty. This life is teeming with beauty, from the ornate design of a bird to the wonderful creation of each sunset. We only need to take notice.

March 2020 brought with it plenty of reasons to complain. So many difficulties, heartbreaks, and setbacks, it seemed like the whole world felt hopeless. And while feeling those disappointments and hurts is an incredibly important step in healing, the Lord taught me the power of finding beauty in the mundane moments of our life. And in the process, He created in me a heart of gratitude.