The Connection Corner

Beauty in the Slow Down

Psalm 37:7 — Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

There are some things in life you have to learn to appreciate, aren’t there?

Porch sitting is one of them. As a kid, it used to bore me to tears. I couldn’t understand why that was all the adults wanted to do—just sit there. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered it really might be one of the greatest pastimes there is.

Most simple things are.

Things like slowly reading a book or watching the clouds roll by.

For me, one of those simple pleasures is time spent watching hummingbirds with my mom.

Back during COVID, we would do this daily. I’d sit on the porch working on my laptop. My mom would sit nearby, keeping me company. We wouldn’t always say much. We’d just be there, together, occasionally pointing out the skittering birds when they showed up, and we’d refill the feeders when they ran dry.

It was mesmerizing. It felt like catching a glimpse of something you were never meant to miss. They stopped by just for a moment, then dart to and fro again. They would be gone almost as soon as you noticed them.

But if I’m honest, I think this would’ve bored me to tears before, too.

So, what changed?

It really boils down to one thing.

Stillness.

That’s the acquired taste that most simple things require. Simple pleasures like front porches, slow books, and hummingbirds ask you to sit down enough to pay attention. And that’s harder than it sounds.

Because life will hand you plenty to fixate on. Things that feel unfair. Things that seem like they’re falling apart or impossible to manage.

But out on that porch, none of that follows you.

You sit. You breathe. You notice the beautiful things God is doing around you.

So today, maybe there’s an invitation there—to be still in the presence of the Lord. To wait for Him to act instead of trying to carry everything yourself. To loosen your grip on all the noise and let Him meet you in the quiet.

Because it’s often there—in the stillness—that the smallest, most beautiful things come into view.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What distractions or worries have been making it difficult for you to be still lately?
When was the last time you slowed down enough to notice God’s presence in ordinary moments?
What would it look like for you to wait patiently for God instead of trying to control the outcome yourself?

May 9, 2026/by David Hall

From Complaints to Calling

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

Isaiah 43:18-19 — Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

I was so frustrated I was about to scream.

So dramatic. I know.

But I was scrolling my phone, and I could not take it anymore.

I’m talking about how so much “mom content” online is so unnecessarily emotional and sad. Like, “Oh, you’ll miss breaking your ankles on these Legos. So don’t blink. They grow up fast.”

Yes, I know there’s some bittersweetness to that, but it’s like people want me to be sad all the time that my child is growing up.

No way. I refuse. Healthy things are supposed to grow.

But there I was — complaining about it again. Frustrated, again.

I felt the Lord gently pressing on my heart telling me, “Bri, do something about it or quit complaining.”

I didn’t love that…but it did get me thinking. I sat with the Lord for a minute, and I told Him, “You’re right. If you want me to start something that can actually encourage new moms, I will.”

I don’t have it all figured out. But I know this: I don’t want to live stuck in complaining when God is calling me to make a difference.

Maybe it’s time to stop circling your same frustrations too. Replaying those same worn-out thoughts never helps, so instead pay attention to what God is doing. He is always doing something new. Sometimes the new thing God wants to grow starts when we stop dwelling on what frustrates us and start paying attention to where He’s leading us.

Even here, even now… And I’ll miss what God wants to do through me if I stay stuck in complaining.

Maybe you’ve felt that too—frustrated, worn down, catching yourself complaining over things others do that you just don’t agree with.

I know you want to scream, but move into faith. Go from complaining to action because it could be that the very thing you’re tired of seeing is the very place God wants you to make a difference.

So, step in. Speak life. Build something better.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Is there an area of your life where you’ve become stuck in frustration or complaining?
Could God be using that frustration to show you where He wants you to make a difference?
What “former things” might you need to stop dwelling on so you can notice the new thing God is doing?
How can you move from criticism to encouragement in your everyday life?
What is one practical step you can take this week to “build something better?”

May 8, 2026/by Bri Dunn

Blueberries and Blessings Abound

Daily Devotional, Denise Pagano

John 15:4 — Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

It’s funny how something so small can change everything.

Back when my kids were still small enough to fit their hands inside old coffee cans, summer meant one thing: blueberry fields. When I think about it, I can almost feel the sun on my shoulders, hear the cicadas, and see their little fingers turning purple before we’re done.

We’d pick until the cans were heavy, sneaking a few along the way. Then we’d head home for the real work — washing, sorting, and freezing. We stacked bag after bag away to last us through winter. Blueberry smoothies, muffins, oatmeal… we ate them with everything.

And you know, at the time, it just felt like a sweet tradition.

Now I hear how something as small as a cup of blueberries can benefit your heart, your brain, and even your focus within hours.

Like I said, it’s amazing what little things can do.

One of the most important ‘small’ things we can do is stay close to God. Jesus said it’s like a branch staying connected to a vine. It’s not about striving, and you don’t always see it right away—but the branch quietly receives life and nourishment from the vine.

That’s where I tend to miss it sometimes. I look for big moments that feel significant. But most of my days are made up of small choices where I’m turning my attention back to God, whispering prayers, or choosing faith when it would be easier not to.

It doesn’t feel like much.

But neither does a single cup of blueberries.

Small, consistent choices in faith aren’t insignificant—they’re formative. Over time, they’re how strength is built, quietly and steadily.

So maybe today isn’t about doing more. Maybe it’s about staying connected. Staying near. Staying open. Like a branch that doesn’t try to produce fruit, but simply refuses to disconnect from the vine.

And over time, often without even noticing, something in you begins to grow.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What are some small, daily habits that help you stay connected to God?
Do you ever find yourself chasing big spiritual moments while overlooking consistent connection?
What might “remaining in Him” look like in your everyday routine?
Where are you tempted to strive instead of simply stay connected?
What is one small step you can take today to turn your attention back to God?

May 7, 2026/by Denise Pagano