Notes From August
A Quiet Place for My Heart
Sitting quietly, surrounded by beauty, I found myself noticing something I had almost forgotten how to do.
Be still.
The gentle sound of water moving over the rocks, the warm breeze around me, and the peaceful surroundings created a moment where I could slow down and simply take it all in.
There was no rushing.
No trying to think about the next thing.
Just a quiet moment to breathe, reflect, and enjoy what was right in front of me.
It was a moment my soul needed.
After so much movement in everyday life, I realized how much peace can be found in the simplest moments. Sometimes our hearts don’t need something big or extraordinary. Sometimes they just need a place where we can be still long enough to hear what has been quiet inside of us.
As I sat there, memories from my childhood began to come back to me.
The peacefulness around me reminded me of my village, of a time when life felt slower and simpler. A time when I could enjoy the beauty around me without carrying so many worries.
Those memories brought a mixture of emotions.
A little sadness for a time that has passed, but also gratitude for the memories that remain.
It reminded me that some moments stay with us because they reconnect us with a part of ourselves we may have forgotten.
I never expected that a trip to Branson, Missouri, for my daughter’s dance competition would become a moment that touched my heart so deeply.
We came here for practices, schedules, and performances, but somewhere in the middle of all the activity, I found a quiet place where my heart could rest.
Because of a small misunderstanding with our plans, we ended up staying a little farther away from where the dance competition was taking place.
What seemed like a small inconvenience became an unexpected blessing.
It gave us the opportunity to slow down, take in the beauty around us, and experience a moment that felt like it was exactly where we needed to be.
It felt like God was gently reminding me to pause, breathe, and enjoy the present moment.
I believe He knew my soul needed this.
Not because everything in life changed.
Not because my responsibilities disappeared.
But because, for a little while, I was able to be still.
I came to Branson expecting to watch my daughter dance.
But God gave me something else along the way.
He gave me a moment of peace.
Some places leave beautiful memories.
Others quietly leave your heart a little different.
I think this place did both.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Blessings,
Mariatu Boyce
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