Do You Savor?

I had this question posed to me recently and my first initial reaction was, "Of course!". However, upon further reflection I found that I actually was not savoring. In fact, I'm not sure I had even taken the time to understand the word fully ("taken the time" being operative words here). I think I was enjoying at best. To me, enjoying is noticing the moment and thinking "this is nice", but that's about it. There isn't a lot more to the thought process or experience than that. Savoring, I am discovering is an entirely different thing. It includes being present and taking the time to truly feel, experience, appreciate, and take in all the aspects of the moment. Savoring necessitates your presence. If you aren't fully present in the moment, you aren't savoring it.

When I really started thinking about this and trying it out, I found that instead of savoring the moment, I was always thinking about what came next. I might be taking a nice long bubble bath, but during the bath I was thinking about what I had to do next (laundry, dishes, phone calls, cleaning, etc.). I decided to make a concerted effort to change this and it has been such a beautiful change. I mean God gave us this lovely thing called life, and yes there are difficult aspects to it, but there are also so many wonderful aspects that we have to not only enjoy, but savor. Now, when I have a moment to myself to have a bath or eat a chocolate, or sip a nice cup of hot tea, I really try to be present in the moment. I even find myself setting the stage for the moment by lighting a candle and picking my favorite bubble bath, or choosing my favorite tea cup to enhance my favorite flavor of tea (Earl Grey). I have come to love these experiences so much.

I challenge you to ask yourself the question, "Do I savor?" and then answer it honestly. Some of you will realize that you already do a great job of savoring, and some of you will come to a different realization and find that you are enjoying at best.

Before I close, let me just address some of the excuses that may already be popping up in your head.

1) "I don't have time to savor."

This was one of the first ones that came to mind for me. But let's face it, if you have time to read this blog post or peruse FB or...or...or..., you have time to spend 10 minutes (at least) in a bubble bath, or taking a walk, or sipping a cup of tea or coffee, or (fill in the blank with something you really enjoy doing). It's not really about quantity as much as quality.

2) "I don't have the money to savor."

This one also came to my mind as we are currently on a very tight budget. It's not like I could pay for a trip to the spa or anything. In fact, I really couldn't even splurge on a new candle scent, bubble bath, or tea cup. Just use what you have! You'll be surprised what you already have hanging out in your house that you can use for this purpose. I found candles I had completely forgotten about. Also, you can hit the sales or even a thrift store.

3) "Kids. Need I say more?"

No, you need not say more. I understand this and although my kids are older than some of yours, I do know that all kids go to bed, and some of them take naps. Instead of using all of their sleep time to catch up on chores (or blogs or FB or even sleep), use some of it to have a moment of savoring. You won't regret it!

Okay, one last thing. When you take this time to truly be quiet and savor, you will find Someone there to meet you. And by someone I do not mean your husband or kids (although I realize this might be a distinct possibility). I am referring to God. You will find that He will meet you right where you are at in that moment and if you are open to it, He will fill you up with His love, grace, and truth! And we can all use a little more of that in our lives! Amen? And just for the record, I did not set out for these savoring times to become "quiet times" per se, but many times that is what just naturally comes to be. When you are truly quiet and present, it gives Him space to show up. It's a truly wonderful thing! I pray you will try it...and if you do, please let me know how your experience turns out!

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10