Is it worth your time?

About a week ago, on my way home from our walk and gym work-out, my friend, Linda, spied a coin on the ground and stooped to pick it up. She recited the little ditty that comes from picking up pennies as we continued on our way, and we both got a little chuckle out of that. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was 5 cents Euro. She mentioned that meant 5 of us could have "good-luck". Then, she mentioned that with the Euro-to-dollar rate, that technically about 8 people could have good luck. She promptly gave it to me and told me to pass it on. That brought a smile to my face. I kept the penny for several days, and keep reflecting on that moment. Since that day, I have realized how much I don't pay attention to the small things in life. I had forgotten to take time to appreciate life. I had forgotten to think of others so quickly. I had forgotten to enjoy children in their childhood. I had forgotten to take pleasure in small things. Our course, when we walk, is about 4 miles long. We usually go at 7am, which means it is still pretty dark outside, but daybreak is on the way.We go through the vineyards that Stuttgart is famous for. About 1/2 way through the vineyards,there is a section that overlooks a great part of Stuttgart...and there we came upon 2 older couples today, standing in the vineyards, facing the sunrise. They were just standing there, chatting softly about how beautiful the sunrise came up over the city. It wasn't a particularly fabulous sunrise. Just normal. It dawned on me.... Do we as Americans take time out of our early morning routine to just enjoy something simple as a sunrise? Yesterday, was Sunday and our church schedule has changed. I hate this schedule because it rushes me in the mornings. I find that the spirit eludes me these Sundays because there isn't time to linger. My youngest child woke up in the worst way... she was not prepared for the early morning. She was grouchy and unyeilding. She did not want to wear those tights. She did not want to eat breakfast. She did not want to have her hair brushed....and so it went. I was rushed. I felt frustrated with her because she would not cooperate with what I needed her to do. I fussed at her to get a move on. A small voice, out of no where, whispered for me to take 5 minutes out of my busy routine, and just hold her. Exasperated, I wondered how I could possibly do this, as everything was on a tight schedule. The voice was insistant, seemingly saying, "If you are late for church because you held your child, then so be it." I went in, picked her up, and cuddled. I instantly felt the fight go out of her and, more importantly, myself. 5 Minutes. That is all she needed. A smile came to her lips and she began to talk about how excited she was that today was her turn to be sung to in Primary. It's her birthday, afterall. A lump formed in my throat. She looked up with those precious eyes, and said, "I'm glad we love each other". What if I hadn't listened? What if I had missed this precious moment with my daughter, because I was too intent on getting to church exactly on time? I learned a lesson. Take Time-and MAKE time. Incidently, we made it to church,with 10 minutes to spare.