Learn to focus on simple pleasures of life

Several years ago, I arrived early to my job at the clinic, so I stopped by my boss' office to say good morning.

As I sat in the chair across from her desk, I noticed a pair of binoculars in the midst of her piles of papers.

"I just bought a new pair of binoculars. Would you like my old ones?" she asked.

I looked at the binoculars for a short moment and then asked myself, "What would you do with binoculars?"

I didn't go to sporting events nor did I have hobbies where I would use these high-powered glasses. Yet, for some reason, I felt compelled to accept them.

Over the past few years, my illness has left me housebound. I have found great use for those binoculars. Due to these spectacles, I am able to magnify God's creation.

I use them to look at the small birds fluttering their wings as they eat at my bird feeder. I am able to get a closer view of my neighbor's variety of brightly colored flowers.

One day, I watched a mother duck with several babies waddling behind meander down my street. Another morning, I caught a glimpse of two foxes at the end of my backyard. Quickly, grabbing my binoculars, I was able to get a closer look at these rarely seen red beauties. Then one dusky evening, I saw a huge black-and-white striped raccoon at the edge of my backyard.

Yes, I have magnified many of God's creations that I might have missed had I not received these glasses. The gift given me has helped me to see that each day I can look through my spiritual binoculars and magnify the simple pleasures instead of magnifying my circumstances.

I can spend a few moments each day and find peace and tranquillity gazing at the wonders of God's magnificent creativity.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She is available to speak to your church or civic group. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com.