Daily Delight
The art of seeking out goodness each day and delighting in it
Some people are predisposed to be easily delighted. Temperament can play into ones ability to see wonder in otherwise mundane moments, but the older I get, the more I’m convinced it’s a muscle we must all exercise. Delight is as much a choice as it is a common grace, something we can seek out and potentially miss if we’re not paying attention.
My Instagram feed is full of reels flicking sun-kissed scenes of steaming tea, bibles open by candlelight, laundry waving on lines, with instrumental tunes carrying us from one sequence to the next. Each ending with a dreamy challenge to romanticize life.
If you know me, you know that I have no problem with this sentiment. I savor moments with my boy, skipping rocks on the pond by my house. I make sure music is always on while making dinner barefoot each night. More than once, I’ve embarrassingly brought myself to tears in public watching my children do anything really, “Slipping through my fingers” playing on loop in my mind. You may think I’m embellishing. I assure you I’m not.
But life isn’t always overtly romantic. Some seasons, finding enough delight in the day to fill up a two minute montage would prove impossible.
Such a season as this, I find myself in.
When sorrow washes over your life, there is a temptation to yield, to relax, and let the wave of grief weigh you down. Being under troubled waters blurs our ability to see clearly the blessings in life, let alone delight in them. From the depths, it seems safe to stay in bed all day, rewatching the BBC Pride and Prejudice for the 12th time rather than go about daily life, as one should, noticing all the little moments of beauty tucked into the mundane. I’ve had those days. Gray days that weave into wasted weeks, wallowing in self-pity and questions that I’m not sure there are answers to this side of heaven.
That’s why I’ve always been so drawn to the story of Peter walking on the water towards Jesus1*. Many people focus on Peter’s courage, his faith- as they should. Lately, I’ve been struck more by his sinking. The humanity displayed in his losing focus- the fear dragging him under the crashing waves- is wildly relatable. He, as most do when overwhelmed, chaotically but simply cries for help.
“…when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.”
But Jesus… but Jesus, as he always does, reaches into the waves and pulls Peter out of those troubled waters- no questions asked (those come later)- and into His nearness and warmth. Out of the water and into the light.
Can you imagine what Peter felt like? Physically, I mean. Eyes blurry from blinking in lake water, heart racing, body sopping wet and probably cold, while the God Man himself carries poor Peter, in all of his frailty, out of danger and into the delight of his embrace.
Dang. What a delight to feel warmth when you’re scared and cold- even if just for a moment. Pure bliss.
2025 has felt like this to me. Yet for all it’s suffering, it’s taught me (so far) that delight is still present if only one has eyes to see it and a heart soft enough to embrace it. Perhaps the first few times, you have to seek it out. You have to get out of bed, tie your shoes and go on a walk to see that the bluebonnets have just started to shade into that unique blue-ombre that speckles all the Texas greenery in Spring. You have to set down your phone to see your child’s eyes widen as they learn that they can actually whistle!
I’m not saying all of life is a dream sequence. There is real suffering and questions I don’t have answers to. While these things are worth our mental energy and must be endured- I’m not advocating to be shallow thinkers or stick our heads in the sand. But let us not be so weighed down and discouraged that we miss the tiny daily delights that God is so good to give.
The idea for this Substack “The Daily Delight” was born in bed, to be honest. My son had laid a rock at my bedside. An offering. Something dear to him, given to me to simply enjoy, which I did. And it felt good when a lot of things felt bad during that time. Delight, I felt it again from something so small (and dirty).
That day, I laced up my shoes and took a walk. No phone. No agenda. With each step, a small bit of sadness seemed to slip off. By the time I got home I was resolved, regardless of the circumstance or suffering or celebration, that I would seek out goodness and delight in it daily. Even if just for a moment. Each day I will search, acknowledge, and delight in God for his good graces.
What would hearts feel like if we followed through on this practice? What art would we create? What wounds would be healed? What selfish-ambition would fall to the wayside if we lift our eyes and delight in what is good daily.
Daily Delights:
In my ears
1. Jon Foreman does it again with In Bloom, y’all. This album is chill and calming and witty. So fun to listen to. My personal favorite is Cheap Wine- any song that quotes Dolly Parton is alright by me.
I’m over halfway done with Dante’s Inferno, as I work my way through the Divine Comedy this Lenten Season, and I have found Ascend-The Great Books Podcast, hosted by Dcn. Harrison Garlick incredibly helpful as I journey through the nine circles of hell. Delightful! (you can laugh at that)
Mumford & Sons dropped a new album last week and it feels like Christmas in the Spring. It’s a bit different than their usual sound but in a lovely way. I’ve loved wading into this album over the week. Have you listened yet? What’s your favorite song so far?
God bless Ellie Holcomb. And all the Mama’s said, Amen. This woman has almost single handedly kept my driving sanity in tact, saving me from the incessant repeat of Baby Shark. Thank goodness someone is making wholesome, truly delightful “kids music.” This album is such a joy this Spring.
On my body
(or what I wish was on my body when I’m in yoga pants)
My style is (self-defined) as Lovely. Classic. Purposeful.
I find that when I dress with these words in mind, my days feel more enjoyable as I’m less worried about the mess I look and am more focused on the people and tasks at hand comfortably and confidently. Truthfully, I love fashion. Not high fashion per se, but lovely clothes that make you feel lovely. Is there anything better?
These are four snippets that are inspiring me as I dress this Spring in Texas. I have a board for each season that I periodically update on Pinterest. I find this practice so helpful when shopping my own closet instead of yielding to the temptation to shop with each changing season. Sidenote: I’m also loving the butter color that is everywhere- i love butter. i love yellow. win win.
Word that looks weird to me:
feminine
stare at it long enough, type it, it will eventually make you question your sanity
That’s all for me today, folks.
My goal is to send a weekly “Daily delights” with some sort of essay and a list of things are just generally delightful (in my opinion) in hopes of simply brightening your day and encouraging you to go out and create/savor/enjoy life a little bit more.
*Matthew 14:22-33