let me see the peppers

Originally, today, I was going to keep my blog silent as last night, a friend of our family died after a 40 day battle following a bone marrow transplant. This was a man, a young father, a husband, and a friend to many that we know. He was too young to leave this earth and his death was met with tears in our home and the whys that surround events like this.

As I went to bed I remembered a powerful sermon he preached at our church several summers ago. Woven in his testimony about faith, hope, trust and living a bold life wanting to jump into the Father’s arms, were five words that deeply impacted my perspective on life.

Let me see the peppers.

You see, this man had battled cancer years before and learned from that battle to never stop being grateful for the beautiful and yet, often, simple joys in life. Like peppers. Crispy and green and wonderful. I remember the joy with which he described the gift of a green pepper and how he was so grateful for that moment right then. I sat there thinking, he gets it. He understood the gift of today, of a moment, and how he wanted to live grateful and thankful and bold and how he wanted each of us sitting there, listening, to get it as well.

And that? That means today instead of being silent I celebrate our friend’s life and live remembering  the green pepper moments in my life. It’s those things that are so often overlooked until that moment when one is snapped back to the true center – when you realize that life is indeed fragile and things can change in an instance and what you thought was truly important is not really important. The real important is all around and often one, myself, is too asleep and in a rush and a hurry and on a mission with other things that felt so important that I forget to see slow down and see what truly matters.

The rain after a thunderstorm. Sweet mornings from Samuel. Board books left on the living room floor after being read to your littles. Children that love you. My husband. Friends that listen. Daisies on the windowsill.  Sweet notes left by your 16 year old. Ballet. Bikes on the porch. Hope. The smell of coffee brewing in the morning. The sun rising. The sun setting. Rain puddles outside. Apple blossoms on the trees. Little ones snoring so softly. Green grass. Sweet berries. Hugs from your children. Dear friends. Prayer. Pencils for drawing. Freedom of prayer. Peas growing in the garden. New life. I love you’s from those who care. Jesus. Today. This morning. This breath.

Life is short.

I want to see the peppers.

Jeremy, thank you for teaching me to slow down and see the peppers and to live a life of faith. You have blessed me with your wisdom, words and faith.

Please be in prayer for Jeremy’s wife and their three young sons.

*****

I’d love for this post to not be about me and my words, but rather a collection of gratitude, of living awake, inspired by the wise words of Jeremy. Would you simply write a list of things you’re thankful for that you’ve overlooked in the busy pace of life? If you’d like, leave it in the comments and let’s celebrate the gift of today.