By Kelsey Klepper
I live in northwest Ohio where the terrain is flat. There are no rolling hills or mountains. There are small towns and miles upon miles of corn and bean fields. It’s where I was raised, where I came back to, and where (most) of my favorite people reside. That’s why my husband and I came back; we love our people and wanted to do life with them.
Last week, my husband and I went on a trip to Utah. I can’t even begin to describe the mountains and their beauty. The leaves were turning color. There is just something so majestic about mountains, so incredibly breathtaking. We went on a hike to a waterfall and even a mountain hike gave me more life than I thought imaginable, like “dang, I just did that. I felt that burn and still climbed onward. I started way down there and now I’m here, and look at this view. Woah.” I was in awe to say the least.
As I was on this trip, I was pondering whether or not locals felt this same magical awareness I felt looking at the mountains and hiking them. Or is this all just taken for granted after seeing it and living in it day in and day out? Of course, I had to ask someone and so did my husband. The response was basically that they don’t think they take it for granted until they leave and come back. But then I think, “I do the same thing with my small Ohio town. I’m missing the beauty every day. It may not have grand mountains, but there is something exceptionally special about those sunsets over the fields.”
I started reflecting on this idea with how I think about my body. How often am I just living in my body and not truly appreciating its greatness, its perfection hand selected by my Creator himself? Does it take a strenuous hike up a mountain for me to realize how amazing it is? Does it take birthing my babies to feel empowered and believe my body is incredible? Does it take relief from postpartum anxiety and depression for me to be in awe of my body and mind? Why must I take my body for granted when it allows me to live out my life every day? Jesus made it perfect for me to follow him daily, to love and serve others daily, to live out his truth daily.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139).
I think living in a posture of gratefulness is one of the best ways we can start being in awe of how amazing he’s made us right here and now rather, than waiting for the “big” moments.
1 Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever (Psalm 106:1).
