“To see the magic of life look through the wondrous eyes of a child.” ~Debasish Mridha
Thanks to all of you who said you might enjoy some hiker devotional thoughts, I plan to post a devotional on the first Sunday of each month for a while. So here’s the initial entry of 1st Sunday Hiker Devotionals. Let me know what you think.
Looking at God’s World through the Eyes of a Child
I like to hike with children. They have a way of looking at things in fresh ways and of helping you see things you may have never noticed before. At least, not for a long time
. Kids turn over rocks just to see what might be underneath and get excited about roly-poly bugs and ants carrying provisions back to the ant colony. They think of fishing at the first sight of a worm and realize without being told that God meant for us to wade in creeks and play in dirt.
Sometimes, if you’re fortunate, you’ll be sitting in the middle of a path you thought you were going to walk, but instead you and the child are digging for treasure. No matter what you find–a shiny pebble, a snail shell, or a fishing worm–all at once some of the wonder of childhood when everything was new and anything was possible will come back to you.
That’s how Jesus says we are to be about the kingdom of God–as a little child who believes without the need for verifiable proof, who loves without first considering the reward, and who takes joy in this beautiful and wondrous world God has made.
“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Mark 10:15 (NKJ)
“There’s joy and wonder everywhere when you see the world through the eyes of a child” -Katrina Mayer
Thanks for reading.
What wonders of nature have you seen through the eyes of a child? Or through your own eyes whatever age you might be?
To celebrate this 1st Sunday Devotional, I’ll give away a couple of books, winner’s choice of one of my books and a grab bag book by a different inspirational author. All you have to do is leave a comment here on this post. I’ll pick a winner by random.org and announce the winner next Sunday.
Comments 40
Thanks for this devotional ! I enjoy nature , looking and listening for the many ways God reveals his gifts to us….the song of a bird , the early morning call of the owl ,the recent arrival of our first barn swallow returning to it’s familiar nesting site , and the 5 bullfrogs that are now croaking in our pond. It is amazing how the Lord directs nature in His perfect timing !
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Glad you enjoyed my devotional thoughts about seeing nature with kids, Nancy. Sounds as if you know how to see and listen too. We have a pond near our house and get to hear those bullfrogs. Right now we’re hearing lots of spring peepers. And you know I love hearing the early morning bird songs.
I enjoyed your hiker devotional and will look forward to the next one. Seeing and studying the wonders of God’s creation was the reason I majored in Biology. I am still amazed at all the thing you can see when you take a walk with God.
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If I had you along with me on my walks with the kids, Janice, you could answer all their questions and mine too. I sometimes have to say because that’s how God made whatever it is when I get questions. 🙂
I’m delighted to see that you’ve decided to continue your devotionals on the first Sunday of the month. A great way to begin each month! Thank you. My mother was a plethora of knowledge when we would Go for a walk or our dad would take us on a Sunday drive in that she seemed to know the names of all the plants, trees and even what are considered weeds along the roadside. I’m afraid I didn’t follow in her footsteps even though I do enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature. God bless you!
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Always appreciate you stopping by, Karen. I’ve tried to learn the wildflower names but every year I seem to have to “review” some of them. 🙂 My mother-in-law used to name many of the plants, but I always told my husband that while she might be right, she could say anything and none of us would know to contradict her. But it is fun to have somebody telling you about the plants and trees you’re seeing.
These words bring tears to my eyes. Oh, yes, Mother, knew the names of wildflowers, shrubs, trees. She blessed us and our children with her knowledge on walks, on drives. . . And she discovered many four leaf clovers. She encouraged all to enjoy the beauty and the wonder in God’s creation.
I took my children, and later my grandchildren, on “adventures” walking in the fields and close to rivers and lakes. I still remember how excited they got finding a rock with a fossil in it. My grandson also got excited seeing the tracks of deer and foxes. He would sit on the fence looking at the field for a long time hoping to spot an animal.
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If the tracks are there, the animals are sometimes, Janet. I can see him sitting there and hoping they’ll come out of hiding for him to see. Sometimes my granddaughter would say she wanted to go exploring when we walked on the farm and then we’d have to pretend we were lost. She might have been if I hadn’t been with her. I have had some adventures with the grandkids.
I learned a deep appreciation for nature and wildlife as a child through my Grandfather and my Mother. I have passed that on to my own children.
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Sounds as though you have a long family tradition of appreciating the natural world around us. What a treasure to have passed from one generation to another, Michelle.
Thank you for a wonderful devotional. My children are grown now but I remember having the tresure hunts on walks we would take together. It seemed like time would last forever when we would explore God’s hidden treasures. Now it’s time to start tradition with grandchildren.
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So glad you enjoyed the Hiker Devotional, Susan. I appreciate you letting me know that. I had fun with my kids but I’m promising you that exploring nature with your grandkids may be even more fun. I think we learn more patience as the years go by and worry less about the “have to dos” when we’re spending time with those sweet grandchildren. So enjoy.
With a 24 year old granddaughter and a 15 year old grandson who have outgrown the simple pleasures of turning over a rock or playing peek-a-boo behind a tree, I am looking forward to the birth of a new little grandson this month and the coming years of exploring God’s World with him.
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Lucky you, Jean. You’re going to get to start all over again enjoying life and exploring God’s World with a new precious grandson. Enjoy those peek-a-boo games and blowing bubbles and all those sweet smiles.
Looking forward to reading more blogs like this. It’s amazing to see the wonder in a child’s eyes and to hear the things they come up with. Love the photo too.
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Always good to hear from you, Ola. I’m glad you think the Hiker Devotionals will be fun to read. Kids do make things take on a new luster when they are discovering them in the world of nature. I had another picture I was going to use, but I couldn’t find it. But these fit the devotional thoughts well.
My grandson found a robin egg Friday night in our yard.He was so amazed by it. He got a flashlight to shine through to see the yolk. He was trying to figure out if he could hatch it.I remember times when I would find wildlife and try to save them.
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I doubt he could hatch that robin egg, but it was neat of him to want to, Lisa. And who knows? Maybe he could have and then he would have had to catch a lot of worms. LOL. I found a baby rabbit once and brought it home to try to keep it alive. It died and I had a burial and funeral for it. I wanted a pet so badly. That was before I got my first dog.
I love your post! I love seeing the world through my grandchildren ‘s eyes. Their world is happy, their world is kind. The wonder in their eyes as they explore and learn, I love this!
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Grandchildren can make getting a little older not so bad because they are such fun, Melanie. What a blessing to have grandchildren who live in a happy kind world and know the wonder of discovery. I wish for the same for all children.
Your words unlock so many memories of walks in the woods and time spent at parks and backyards with my children, my nephews and nieces, my grandchildren., and my students. Just yesterday, my granddaughter played in the backyard with neighbors, ages 4-6. They gathered grasses, sticks, small rocks to make a bird’s nest in a fort. Suddenly, she hollered, “Look! Look! Look what we found!” She ran towards her daddy and me. “We found bird food!” In her hand, she carried a healthy worm in a small trowel. All the children were thrilled.
Author
That’s so cute, GB. Bird food, it was, although the worm might have preferred to hide out from the bird. LOL. You can discover so much when you’re willing to share time with kids out in the great outdoors. Glad you have so many good memories of times with your family kids and students.
Thank you, Ann, for sharing your devotions with us! Our God provides so many wonders in nature. Experiencing them through the eyes of a child provides that beautifully gentle reminder to come to Him as a child.
I took my greatgranddaughter for a walk when she was about three years old we found some pea rock and had to stop and pick out all of the pretty ones to take home with her, she is almost thirty years old now but still likes pretty rocks. Her kids paint pictures on them and puts their town’s name on them and they leave them different places they go.
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I’ve heard of other kids doing the paint the rock and leave it for others to find, Donna. That’s fun. And I’m like your great granddaughter, although much older, and still like rocks too. I’ve carried a bunch of them to the house. My older sister is the same way. The two of us go for a walk and our pockets will get heavy with rocks we just have to take home with us. LOL.
Ann,
Thank you so much for reminding us of seeing thru the eyes of a child. With life’s ups and downs we seem to forget the wonder of God’s world and the simple blessing of the the birds song, a fresh spring breeze, the sound of a brook and best of all the sound of a child’s laughter or sweet
Song.
My youngest grandchild just turned 13. This writing has reminded me of
the times we spent picking flowers, singing the new songs they had learned in Sunday School. The days
Before I retired coming home to find a new rock lying on my night stand. Our sweet Sam has been looking for pretty rocks that day a left a special one for me.
One of God’s best blessings if not the best A child’s heart!
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Gail. Love that sweetest blessing – a child’s heart.
You’re like me. Your grandkids are growing up. So are mine. My youngest is going to turn ten next Sunday. We’ve had some good times doing all those things you said, but as the kids get older they do have new interests. That’s how life works. But we can still be with them and sometimes they still want to go out walking and finding new things and enjoying those everyday blessings of our world.
I love this devotion, Ann! When we look at things as a gift from God, we see the true beauty. That’s why I love road trips, especially going to see my sister in Oklahoma as I did this past week.
A few years ago, my GPS lost signal in western Kentucky just before I got to the Missouri line. I realized I was on the wrong road and prayed for a good spot to stop and look at my map. A sign appeared around the next bend showing “Scenic Overlook” with an arrow. I turned, and proceeded up a hill to park. As I cleared the hill a beautiful, gigantic white cross appeared! I had one of those “Ahhh God moments”. I don’t know if you’ve ever been to the Wickliffe Mounds, but it’s beyond stunning! Where the mighty Mississippi and Ohio Rivers meet is truly a Masterpiece of our Creator. It takes my breath away every time I make that journey out west. And I marvel at the beauty God surrounds us with. I’ll try to share a photo with you on facebook.
Thanks for sharing your Sunday with us, and giving me a chance to share this with you and the others here.
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What a perfect answer to prayer, Lavon. You could say the Lord answered your prayer for a place to pull over and then added a triple blessing with the overlook. What is it people say? You can’t out give God.
I’ve not been to the Wickliffe Mounds, but if I’m in the area, I’ll check it out. My husband enjoyed taking a scenic route whenever we go vacationing. Sometimes that can be fun and sometimes it can just be long. 🙂 I’ll look forward to the photo.
I loved it! It doesn’t take many words to say something meaningful. It made me want to take another little walk with one of my Great granddaughters and see what she sees, and open my eyes, for a jewel to remember. Thank you Ann
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I hope you do get to take that walk with a great granddaughter, Carolyn. That would turn out to be a sweet memory for you both. Definitely a jewel of a memory.
When my nephew was 4 his favorite things were rocks. He loved to find some with “gold” in them. I have one that he gave me about 4 years. Every time I see it I think of how he gave me the most valuable thing to him at that time.
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When I was looking for a quote to put with my piece, April, I came across one that was longer than I wanted, but it said to take whatever a child gave you as a gift and express gratitude since the child had give you something he thought valuable. And then your comment practically echoed that thought. So sweet that you still have his golden rock gift.
Our grandson is 20 months old. Taking walks with him and listening to his excitement about squirrels, birds, dogs and the wind in the trees gives our family true blessings. Everything is new to him and he is enjoying God’s creations. 🙂
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That is such a sweet age, Melissa. They are old enough to be talking and really learning about things. A child is truly a blessing to a family and a double blessing to a grandmother. Enjoy.
Lovely thoughts, Ann. I hope I always see God as a child would. I am Unafraid because of Jesus. I can call God “Father”. It is so comforting. Because He is bigger than anything and I know He has my best interests at heart!
Thanks fir this post . I am going to enjoy these!
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Those are comforting thoughts and words, Paula. We have a big God, bigger and more powerful than our human minds can comprehend. So to have the trust of a child when thinking of the Lord has to be the way to go. I’m glad you think you’ll enjoy my hiker devotions.
I love this devotional thoughts, Ann! Please keep them coming! What a great way to reflect on our relationship with The Lord! ✨Psalm 74✨
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Glad you enjoyed it, Emily. Hope your book writing/editing is going well.