Decorating Easter Eggs
On Easter, this year, I sat peeling decorated eggs in preparation for dinner. I looked up and read this month’s Mary Engelbreit’s calendar quote by Simone Weil, “attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” This beautiful quote stopped me in the midst of de-shelling yet another egg. I instantly thought of the evening before and the time I spent decorating eggs with my son. I pictured my son’s eyes light up in happiness at the completion of each finished product. I allowed the joy of the time we spent together to wash over my heart and mind. My almost teenage son still wanted to decorate eggs with his mom! He honored me with his attention and I him with my attention. What a beautiful gift we gave each other!
As I ponder this quote, I think of all the moments in which life becomes so busy that we forget to embrace the magical moments of childhood and other occasions spent with loved ones. Moments as simple as a boy asking his mom for a hug just because he needs one; or when he gets in the car after school and talks non-stop about all that happened during the day; or that moment when he and his dad jump together on the trampoline laughing and joking around; or even those instances when a close friend calls us out of the blue to simply say “hello.” It is these moments that the stress of life can cause us to push aside as not being important, making us forget to pay attention to what matters most. We cannot forget that our children need and thrive on our undivided attention and the time we spend with them, just as do we. Nor can we forget to spend time with our loved ones and true friends; for our attention to these individuals “is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”
My thoughts on this topic then shifted to the attention that Jesus shows us. He is always waiting for us to seek him and when we do, we obtain his undivided attention; “behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). In Matthew 11: 28-29, Jesus states, “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This verse makes me think of a child running to his parent when he is so exhausted all he wants is to be held. The parent, knowing the child and his moment of need, bends down and picks the child up, cradling him in protective arms; comforting the child in a loving embrace. Jesus does this for us. When we need him—when we seek him—he comes and swoops us into his arms; showering us with the purest and rarest form of generosity, his attention. Jesus generously pays attention to us and our needs. He cherishes the time we spend with him just like a mom cherishes decorating eggs with her son, but even more.
This, my friends, is such a beautiful thought, “attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” Are we generously paying attention to our loved ones and friends? Are we seeking the undivided and unconditional attention of Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father? It is my hope that each of us will take time to ponder where our attention is currently focused and if needed, to shift it to what matters most.