Moments of Wonder
There is such joy in being with a child when they experience something new. I remember the first time our granddaughter saw snow and the utter amazement on her face as she looked up and felt soft flakes falling on her face. We were vacationing with extended family in the mountains of Tennessee for Thanksgiving. The early, unexpected snow had us Floridians scurrying in our pajamas, grabbing coats and shoes as we ran outside the cabin with our first grandchild.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, the picture of our granddaughter taken in the moment says it all.
Life is full of moments like these – moments of wonder and awe, moments when the unknown becomes known. If you have children in your life, these moments happen with regularity and are often unforeseen and sometimes sadly missed. As a parent or grandparent, it is both fun and rewarding to share these moments, and teach children something new to expand their understanding of the world.
Seize the Moments
Our home is on the inside of a loop tucked away in the back of a quiet community. This past week a tornado touched down on the outside loop and took out a dozen power lines in one fell swoop. The wind came and went in under a minute. Apart from losing power, we might never have known how close the tornado was to hitting us. The emergency alert went off at 4:02 p.m., the electricity cut off within minutes.
The fire department was the first to arrive, responding to calls from homeowners, reporting blue “fire” and sparks from the downed lines.
It didn’t take long for the neighbors to be out gawking with astonishment at large poles snapped in half like toothpicks. Our son’s family lives on the outside of the loop and were front and center in all the excitement.
The electric company was out surveying the damage by night fall and was still on site late into the evening. Trucks began arriving the next morning – cranes, cherry buckets, and ones with large drills for replacing poles. 
Our granddaughters watched as the trucks rolled into the neighborhood and were curious and interested to watch the men at work. 
Dad and Papa were happy to walk them around the loop to observe and explain the process and operation as they understood it.
Natural Curiosity
A child’s natural curiosity leads to teachable moments that allow us to share the wonders of God, His work in nature, and His power. Every day there are spontaneous and unexpected learning opportunities to increase background knowledge and make meaningful connections for children. When parents and grandparents take time to explain or demonstrate something new, they help a child to build a strong framework of knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Plan Some Moments
There is no limit to new experiences and new learning opportunities. While many are unforeseen, some can be planned. For example: a new book about birds leads to watching and sketching birds; a new classmate initiates a discussion on how to show kindness, and compassion, a planned vacation prompts you to read a historian fiction book related to your destination, a bike ride facilitates a lesson on safety, a natural disaster leads to conversation about science, God’s sovereignty, trusting in God, compassion for others, and service. Learning from these experiences, expands our understanding of and appreciation for the Creator and the created.
God made a magnificent world, full of delightful sounds, tastes, sites, and adventures. Discovering the beauty, the simplicity and the complexity of His creation is a life-long pursuit. Therefore, whether it is a child’s first snow, Ferris wheel ride, plane trip, visit to the Grand Canyon, or the electric company staking out your neighborhood, jump at the chance to experience the joy of learning with your child. Use these everyday moments of wonder as opportunities to teach children, while pointing to His goodness and majesty. Moments of wonder await!
I would love to hear about a moment of wonder you have experienced with your child or grandchild. Please share in the comment section below.