Oct
19
2021
Simplicity In The Ordinary
Posted in Daily Living 6 Comments
Do you remember the old refrigerator boxes?
Those boxes provided hours of play for my children.
Those boxes became all the things their imagination could create.
Those boxes seem to be a thing of the past.
Appliances still come in boxes.
Stores sometimes offer lower prices for appliances which are out of the box.
However, those that are in the box come into your home already unpacked.
The boxes remain on the delivery truck.
That is sad.
Those large refrigerator boxes became a space ship, a play house, and a general store.
My husband would cut the cardboard to make a door for our children.
He would cut three sides of the door with his knife; the attached side became the door’s hinges.
Crayons and markers were given.
Windows had crayon curtains and window panes.
Rocket ships had control panels with more buttons than I could possibly count.
The general store had various items on the shelves.
That refrigerator box stayed in the family room for at least a week.
It was moved out of the way when my children went to bed and brought out in the morning.
When the box leaned to one side from repeated use, it was moved to the garage.
There, even more creativity took place.
I thought about that when I saw a video that my son sent all of us.
He and my daughter-in-love were driving with my granddaughter in her car seat.
When I first clicked on the video, I heard squeals of delight.
I have watched that short video numerous times and still laugh just as hard.
They were driving with the windows down.
The windows in the back, near my granddaughter, can only be opened not quite half way.
There was a small inflatable balloon catching the breeze.
The balloon stayed airborne, floating past my granddaughter.
My daughter-in-love was filming the floating balloon and my granddaughter’s reaction.
The balloon would get close to her and then waft away.
The balloon would go to one side of the back seat and then go over to the other side.
At one point, my granddaughter was able to catch the balloon.
Catching the balloon was not nearly as fun as watching it go back and forth in front of her.
Amidst squeals of laughter, she released the balloon.
The game began again.
The laughter and squeals continued.
Free entertainment: all you need is a balloon and an open window, my son said, laughing.
Refrigerator boxes.
A balloon and an open window.
Crayons and paper.
Old dress up clothes.
Simple things that bring great fun.
Simple things that call for the imagination to come alive.
That is the best kind of play.
The possibilities are endless.
My husband and I were talking about the state of the world.
At one point in our conversation, my husband said something so simple.
We have to cut the grass, do the dishes, repair things around the house.
We have to take care of our families, be kind to our neighbors, and live our lives.
I listened and agreed, since that is how he lives his life.
I am a simple man, he once said to me.
He is.
Simple things are important to him.
I was reading my Bible as I was eating my breakfast.
I came upon a verse that summed up what my husband was saying.
I love when that happens.
God uses so many things to teach us and capture our attention.
…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thessalonians 4:11,12)
Lead a quiet life.
Decorate refrigerator boxes.
Cut the grass, do the dishes, repair things around the house.
Take care of our families, be kind to our neighbors, and live our lives.
Little things matter.
We were never meant to carry the news of the whole world on our shoulders.
The world is literally at our fingertips, in the palm of our hands, but it is too much for us.
What if we got back to simple things?
What if we shopped at local markets and supported local businesses?
What if we took a break from screens and keyboards and played outside?
What if we laid on the grass and watched the ice cream clouds go by?
What if we played with a floating balloon?
What if we squealed with laughter and delight over the littlest thing that brought us joy?
What if we colored a picture?
What if we made cookies and ate the batter?
What if we jumped in a pile of leaves?
What if we lived a quiet life and cared for, really cared for, the ones around us?
What if we made it a point to know our neighbors?
What if we went on a leaf hunting expedition?
What if we listened to the canopy of blackbirds as they call from the tree tops?
Let’s put the world down and open our hands.
Let’s accept with gratitude all the good gifts that God has given us.
Let’s pay attention and listen to the whispers that are all around us.
Simplicity in the ordinary is to be treasured.
Karen expresses my thoughts exactly! We can feel so overwhelmed by what’s going on in the world– thank you for this great reminder…
Amen, Sue.
I need the reminder, as well.
Gina
Hi Gina,
Thank you for writing this Whisper. I think that many of us need to remember to keep life simple by placing God and family in our focus. Pray, care about others, and live simply so that you don’t become overwhelmed and lose hope in these turbulent times. Thanks for your inspiration, Karen.
Karen,
I think we all need the reminder to be intentional about these things.
The world will always try to pull us away from what is most important.
Blessings, friend.
Gina
Beautiful. As the daughters of a plumber my daughters spent their childhood turning water heater boxes into something special. A wonderful reminder to keep it simple Gina, thank you.
Sherie,
How I miss those large boxes!
A whole new world was within their grasp.
Gina