The Power of Noticing
About a year ago, I came across a book called Storyworthy and was introduced to the concept of “Homework for Life.” Essentially, at the end of every day, the author encourages readers to ask themselves, “what was the most storyworthy moment of my day?” and write about it.
I thought this was so interesting because not only does it prompt us to hone our own storytelling abilities, but it also prompts us to pay more attention to our day and the seemingly small things happening all around us.
This is a challenge in our digital age, where instead of people watching at the park or striking up a conversation with a stranger in line at the grocery store, you can get on your phone and scroll through the algorithm forever.
But whenever I take time to notice things around me, I find something worth telling a story about.
A Storyworthy Moment of My Own
During college, I worked as a nanny. One typical, rainy day, the girls and I were stuck in the house, and and while the oldest were napping, I was playing with the youngest on the floor of the playroom. She was almost two at the time.
This particular day, she was playing with these little wooden dress up puzzles, where you can change out their clothes and shoes. She had been calling it her “baby.” (Babies were her most recent fascination.)
Once she got “baby” accessorised the way she wanted, she tried to pick the doll up, flip it over, and snuggle with it.
(Remember: “baby” is a wooden puzzle.)
The pieces all fall out on top of her.
So, she flips them back over and reassembles her “baby.”
Then, the same things happens again.
This time, I step in to try to teach her how the puzzle works and why it is falling out.
She listens, as well as any almost two year old can, and then, she does it again.
And again.
She doesn’t understand that when she tries to hold her “baby”, the pieces will fall out. She is surprised every time.
And even so, I continue to sit on the floor with her - patiently putting the pieces back together each time and attempting to explain, in a new way, how the puzzle works.
And in that moment, when I am simply present on the floor and noticing the situation right in front of me, I realize what I am doing for her is exactly what God does for us.
He allows us to make mistakes, while also patiently teaching and waiting for us to understand. Waiting for us to stop repeating the same mistakes when He is right there ready to help us - no matter home many times He has done it before.
He is so patient with us.
Challenge: Be intentional about noticing. See if you can come up with a storyworthy moment from this week. If you do, please share it with me! I would love to hear.
Take care,
Caroline