The Acorn

Hi friends,

I truly love the outdoors, especially spending time walking and hiking. This past fall, I took three beautiful days to enjoy some quiet solitude and connect with my maker. As I immersed myself in nature, wandering along the peaceful trails, I found myself filled with a wonderful sense of awe at the beauty of creation.

During one of these lovely walks, I had a bit of a surprise! I was nearly taken down by nothing bigger than a tiny acorn. Even though I had my hiking boots on and was watching my step, that little acorn caught me off guard. Because I need a knee replacement, a minor slip like that felt quite alarming, especially being alone in the woods with limited cell service.

Thankfully, everything turned out just fine! It actually gave me a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the minor things in our daily lives that can sometimes feel emotionally overwhelming—like an unkind word, an interruption, or even just the temperature of a room.

It made me wonder: is it really the acorn or the small discomfort itself? Usually, it's just the timing and everything else we are carrying in that moment. An acorn on its own is no threat, but in the wrong place at the wrong time, it can feel huge. I am so grateful for the chance to pause and reflect on that.

Now, I try to see these little moments as gifts. An unkind word is an invitation to gently care for my own heart and offer grace to someone else. An interruption is a chance to breathe through frustration and welcome a new opportunity. A change in temperature simply reminds me to check in with my body.

What a beautiful gift it is to simply pause—to stay still, take a breath, and kindly explore what we are feeling inside. We are so safe and deeply known in those quiet moments. I'd love to leave you with this gentle thought: what is it that keeps us from pausing?

Warmly,

Leslie