About the Author

Michelle Ami Reyes, PhD, is an author and activist. Her first book, Becoming All Things, is the recipient of the 2022 ECPA award. Michelle writes at the intersection of multiculturalism, faith, and justice. She lives with her family in Austin, Texas.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Michelle,
    I love that you savor the moments – you don’t just gulp them down, but you roll them around on your tongue, tasting every hint of flavor and sweetness – you savor. I love that word 🙂 Lately, I’ve been savoring watching the birds at my feeder as I work. Some come and grab a seed or two and flit away, and others pull up to the perch like they are ready for the grand buffet and truly savor the moment. One day Mr.’s goldfinch, cardinal, and bluebird came by the diner at the same time – magnificent! The birds are funny to watch when there’s four portals and six birds show at the same time. Reminds me of dinners around our table when the kids were little – lots of squabbling and arms flapping until everyone’s plates were full. Then when I go to get my mail, the bluebirds have built their nest in the cubby underneath as they’ve done every year. Momma bluebird dive bombs me like a tomcat fighter jet as I reassure her, “Yes, Momma B, I’m going!” Birds….just one way lately that I’ve been savoring the moments and delighting in God’s awesome creation. Thanks for letting me taste your snow cone 🙂
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

  2. God has given us so many reasons to celebrate. Thanks for this invitation to lean into the glory that’s all around us everyday . . . and I am just really wishing that New England snow cones came in mango flavor with a custard boost.

      • My experience with snow cones has been very uninspiring–just various colors of sweet juicy stuff squirted over ice. Definitely no custard!
        This is one more reason for me to come back to Texas! (Loved the BBQ!)

  3. Michelle,
    God has given us many reasons to celebrate. Thank you for the beautiful reminder that we need to celebrate the everyday blessings as well as the big events in our lives. And oh how I wish for that snow cone as the heat continues to rise in our house while we wait for the HVAC guy to arrive. .

    • Oh wow! I hope your A/C is fixed soon, Donna! There truly is something about experiencing coolness and refreshment on a hot summer day that reminds us of God’s simple mercies in our life.

      • Thanks so much Michelle. All is good now and it’s no longer 88 degrees inside. Another reminder to thank God for his wonderful blessings.

  4. Oh, Michelle, your post is such a sweet, welcome reminder to savor God’s goodness each and every day!

    Lately, I’ve been celebrating the healing God has been doing in my life. I have battled anxiety, depression and panic attacks for a huge portion of my life, but He has led me to a wonderful counselor and medical team and has again given me a huge hunger for His Word! I’m diving into it quite a bit. His Word is a healing balm to my soul. My insomnia is gone, and my hope in Him has returned! My hubby and I continue to celebrate this and will do so daily! I think this experience has caused me to find things each day for which to be thankful – big and small! We, too, love to celebrate with food and laughter!

    What an awesome God we serve!

    Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow! <

    Joy in Jesus,
    Lara

    • Thank you, Lara, for sharing your story. I praise God that He is bringing you help and healing! And what a wonderful reason to celebrate, especially with food!

  5. Thank you for such a sweet reminder to savor and celebrate the small and big events in our families lives.
    After a season of loss and medical issues we as a family have become intentional about staying connected and living each day thankful and mindful that each day is a gift.
    Boy do I wish we had such wonderful snowcones here in Maine

    • Maine has wonderful quaint places to see and enjoy, when we visited, and want too again

    • What a great word, Susan. I know from personal experience too that family becomes all the more dear after physical, emotional and relational losses. I hope that you will continue to enjoy and indeed savor time with your loved ones, and what a better way to do that than over a meal or around a table! (Is ice cream more popular in Maine? Now I’m starting to wonder if snow cones are just a regional thing?)

  6. Michelle, I don’t think I’ve ever had the kind of snowcone magic you just described. That sounds delicious! But I have had moments of celebrating the small victories and savoring God’s work! Just earlier this week we took my husband to a doctor’s appointment. In all, we probably had to wait over an hour. A couple years ago this scenario would have sent anxiety crawling up my back — three spirited boys in a quiet, contained space just wasn’t a good match! But on Tuesday, my boys all played Uno together quietly while I finished reading a book. It was incredible! Afterward we went out for tacos and my husband and I kept expressing our gratitude for the season of parenting we’re in and praising our boys for their great behavior — but more than that even, praising God for the gift of family and that we get to do this life together. Thanks for a loving moment to reflect on this again because of your post! xx

    • Thank you, Becky, for sharing such a beautiful story about your three boys! I have one toddler boy and he is always full of energy. I can only imagine what taking three boys to a doctor’s office would be like. And celebratory tacos is a great way to celebrate a “small win”! There are a lot of celebratory tacos in our home too 🙂

  7. Awe, how sweet. 🙂 — I’m trying to savor this odd phase of life I’m in. Not quite an empty-nester, but I can see it on the horizon, and there’s a part of me that’s “hungry” for it. But, such a larger part of me that desperately wants to savor this little time I have left, not squander it. — Thanks, Michelle, for permission to celebrate with food. I think I need to “taste and see that the Lord is good” with a Publix key lime pie today. haha. 🙂

    • Oooh, I love key lime pie too! That sounds wonderful. I love your comment and your own challenge to enjoy the stage of life that God has you in. There really is something special about taking time to slow down, reflect on where God has us and to give thanks over food. Praying that God will speak to you where you are right now…and that that pie is incredibly scrumptious with every bite!

  8. So beautiful it brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing this precious moment of worship.

  9. How wonderful that you and your family are savoring your moments, making precious memories to enjoy for all the years to come. I will soon be savoring family time. All 13 of us will be together (a rare occasion) for a few days. Can’t wait!

    • Nancy,

      I pray you all enjoy this time together. Savor every moment. Have plenty of fun!!

      Blessings 🙂

  10. Michelle, thank you so much for this piece. It is a great reminder to rejoice in the Lord all – ways. I know I often forget to celebrate the little things and it’s the little things that really color our lives. We are in a long waiting period to move into our new home, staying with family for weeks on end. I’ve been doing more grumbling than celebrating. Your ideas here have changed my viewpoint and set me on course for a more positive response. Thank you.

  11. Michelle,

    God gives us so much to savor. This world is so fast paced & hurried that no one hardly slows down to enjoy anything. We need to learn to take a Sabbath rest each & every week. We should stop worrying about tomorrow’s problems & start enjoy the little every day joys. God told the Jews to savor/celebrate several feasts-each one was significant. They celebrated to remember the greatness of God. This may sound crazy but I celebrated both deaths of my parents. They had dementia & were suffering. I rejoiced that their suffering had ended & they could be with Jesus with new bodies. This year I got to celebrate my FIL’s successful cancer surgery. He got to have a 90th birthday. Little victories I celebrate are having a day with my hubby, losing weight, & being with friends. It is so easy to rush through life & not remember all the good things God has done for us-especially the little ones. We need to start savoring & celebrating little victories in our lives & thanking God for His greatness.

    Blessings 🙂