LeeAnn G Taylor - Embracing the Mosaic Life

Trusting our broken pieces to the Ultimate Artist

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You are here: Home / Purposeful Living / Becoming Your Best Self / How To Embrace Life Like a Child

How To Embrace Life Like a Child

July 18, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

She stoops, intent on finding just the right treasure to share with me. Her tiny frame all but disappears against the green grass.

green grass

She is my oldest, my first born, my precious child.

She’s my snuggle-bug, my sweet girl, the one who insists on living life right next to me.

Salem and mommy

Even in her youth, she sees beauty in the everyday and determines to share it.

Her offering today? A bunch of tiny purple blooms.

They’re not Pinterest perfect and this bouquet won’t ever show up in a Southern Living magazine, but it’s what she has to offer and she does it with such enthusiasm.

purple flower offering

Her purpose is to make me feel special, to show love with what she has, today, in the moment.

What if we did that as adults?

What if we looked around, embraced the gifts we were given and shared our lives, just where we are?

What if we took the opportunities presented and made the best of them? What if we did it now with what we have instead of waiting for the illusive perfect moment or situation?

Today’s challenge? Live life like a child.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. In other words, bloom where you’re planted.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Bloom where you’re planted.

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do what you can,  with what you have, where you are

 

How will you embrace the challenge today? Share in the comments and let’s encourage one another!

*This post is part of Lisa-Jo Baker’s 5 Minute Friday series, where she empowers bloggers to write for 5 minutes each Friday on a specific topic. Free writing. Writing just for the sheer joy of it. Today’s topic was “Bloom“. Also sharing with Essential Fridays, Faith Filled Friday, Fellowship Friday, Family Fun Fridays, The Missional Weekend, The Weekend Brew, and Taste and See.

Filed Under: Becoming Your Best Self Tagged With: authentic, five minute friday, kids, perfectionism, things kids teach us

Comments

  1. Katha says

    July 18, 2014 at 1:39 am

    Such an encouragement to see how easy it is to be a blessing to others and go all in! Blooming wherever we are can be a challenge, but normally we get the best part of it. 🙂 Thanks for sharing and Happy Friday! – your FMF neighbor

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 18, 2014 at 1:43 am

      Hi Katha,
      Yes, it definitely can be a challenge to bloom wherever, but I was encouraged that my daughter does it so effortlessly…I think we make it too complicated sometimes, eh? Maybe it’s just me! 🙂

  2. Karen Brown says

    July 18, 2014 at 6:28 am

    LeAnn- I love this take on BLOOM. Open up, like a child, and see the beauty in what we have. Enough so…that we can’t help but share. Great post! Beautiful pics! #FMF

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 18, 2014 at 1:12 pm

      Yes, I love the idea of opening up. It’s so hard for us (especially those of us who are introverts) to open up our lives to others, but it’s so very important and a key way God uses our lives to impact those around us.

  3. Karen Courcy says

    July 18, 2014 at 7:40 am

    I love the photos you shared! I love to have a vision of the words that fit. Thank you for sharing your wonderful FMF post 🙂

    Karen

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 19, 2014 at 3:57 am

      Thanks Karen! I borrowed my dad’s fancy camera and had a ball using it. I took photography in college before digital cameras were widely available and loved it. So fun to use my own pictures for blog posts occasionally. Thanks for stopping by from FMF.

  4. Melissa says

    July 18, 2014 at 10:05 am

    So true. I’m guilty of waiting for the perfect moment to do the perfect thing, which never happens! Lately, though, I’m taking time to enjoy board games with my family, look around when I’m a passenger in the car, and savor the chocolate pudding we made yesterday.

    Your daughter’s bouquet (and what it means) is beautiful!

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 28, 2014 at 2:47 pm

      That’s wonderful! It’s so great when we can take the time to appreciate the little moments, isn’t it? And homemade chocolate pudding…yum!

  5. Holly Barrett says

    July 18, 2014 at 10:14 am

    Love this post, LeeAnn and the pictures of your sweet Salem! It’s so true that we offer up what we have from where we are and God takes it and makes it more than we could ever ask or imagine. Much love to you!

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 28, 2014 at 2:48 pm

      She’s such a love bug! 🙂

  6. Casey says

    July 18, 2014 at 10:15 am

    I have always been taught to “bloom wherever you are planted”… Your posts have really been touching my heart lately!

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 28, 2014 at 2:51 pm

      Thanks Casey! I’m so glad!

  7. Jacque Watkins says

    July 18, 2014 at 11:16 am

    Oh Leann, I am leaning hard into where I am and the gifts before me. Thank you for your beautiful words of encouragement here, to each one of our hearts. LOVED that bouquet she gave you. So very precious. Have a beautiful day! xo

  8. Sarah Knepper says

    July 18, 2014 at 12:03 pm

    Beautiful reflection Leann. Yes, if only we lived as adults that way too. Thank you for sharing your words. xoxo Visiting from FMF

  9. Beth S. says

    July 18, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    I always enjoy FMF posts. I love the different directions taken with a single word. Loved this, LeeAnn. A wonderful challenge . . . live like a child.
    Blessings.
    xoxo

  10. Jess@Flying Feet in Faith says

    July 18, 2014 at 10:46 pm

    Thank you for sharing this! It’s hard to remember to “come to Him like a child”. I like that quote by Theodore Roosevelt. It’s hard to live by. I feel that my measly amounts aren’t good enough. But if it’s genuine and heartfelt it’s more than enough. 🙂 thank you for touching my heart! I know you encourage many.

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 28, 2014 at 3:15 pm

      Yes, I totally “stole” that quote from your Facebook page. Thanks for the inspiration! I also love Theodore and Eleanor Roosevelt quotes…they’re my favorite. So glad my reflections touched you.

  11. Joanne Viola says

    July 19, 2014 at 6:47 am

    Wonderful post to remind us that our offerings need not be perfect. As we give what we have, He does something perfectly with it. So glad to have stopped here this morning. Have a wonderful weekend! PS – She is beautiful!!!

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 28, 2014 at 3:22 pm

      Joanne, so glad you stopped by too! Yes, it is a blessing that our offerings need not be perfect.

  12. Ginger Harrington says

    July 19, 2014 at 8:53 am

    LeAnn, I love the simplicity and beauty of your post today. It is always so interesting to see the different ways folks write about the FMF prompt. Thanks for the reminder to give what is in our hand and enjoy it all the way. I’m visiting you from The Weekend Brew and so glad to find your lovely blog. I’ll enjoy connecting via FB and twitter as well.

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 28, 2014 at 3:22 pm

      Thank you Ginger. I’m so glad you were encouraged by the post!

  13. Barbie says

    July 19, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    Oh to see life through the eyes of a child, where everything is beautiful and has purpose!

  14. Meredith Bernard says

    July 19, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    What a beautiful take on this weeks prompt. And just like you (surprise, surprise )… I have one of those girls that wants to live right beside me, as well. And aren’t those little gifts just the best presents ever? Thank you for the reminder to just enjoy life as I am, where I am. Hugs today friend.

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 28, 2014 at 3:23 pm

      It’s a fun blessing to have a “shadow” as a daughter, isn’t it? 🙂

  15. Elizabeth Stewart says

    July 20, 2014 at 12:30 am

    I’m so blessed to be next to you at Barbie’s Weekend Brew this weekend! I bet God loves our simple child-like offerings of love, much more than our “trying to appear better than we” are acts of religion, in much the same way that your daughter’s simple bouquet is more special to you than the fanciest offering of the best florist.

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 23, 2014 at 6:24 am

      Absolutely! I’d rather have one of her bouquets over a florist’s anytime! 🙂

  16. Cathy says

    July 23, 2014 at 3:52 am

    Leann I loved this post! “Live life like a child.” Such beautiful pictures …a perfect visual. Thanks for sharing this.

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      July 23, 2014 at 6:26 am

      Cathy, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for commenting. I love getting to “meet” those who connect with this idea of our lives as a mosaic and living life authentically. Hope you have a blessed day today.

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