I have realised that I do a whole lot of the former, and very little of the latter.

The realisation came at an unexpected moment.

A nappy change for Master Five Months turned into a complete outfit change (as so often is the case). These deft mum hands were a flurry of activity slapping nappy on bum, wipe and cream, jiggling singlet and onesy over his crown and snapping all those blasted buttons closed on his jumpsuit.

Done.

I looked at his cherubim face, lit with a smile, and sat down.

And then I saw him - properly.

Still lying on his change table, Master was kicking his legs contentedly, fanning his fingers in the air and making faces at the sun shining through the window.

I saw vulnerability, responsibility and privilege all bundled in this gift of a baby. I was able to remove myself from the humdrum of the moment to appreciate the spectacular wonder of life. Like some kind of out-of-body experience, I saw a mother drenched in blessing and her baby brimming with untold potential.

There's looking and there's seeing.

You can take a pedestrian, voyeuristic glance, or an observation that involves you at a greater level - perhaps emotionally, spiritually or cognitively.

Einstein once said, ``He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.''

It's so important to step back and take stock of life every so often, or life - being life - will hurtle us onwards until we're at the end asking, ``Where did it go?'' and ``Why didn't

I stop and cherish the moments?''

It was perhaps for this very reason that the in-laws recently shouted a family trip away, in celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary.

And over dinner one night joyous tears were shed, glasses clinked and arms wrapped around one another for the blessing of a happy marriage, children and grandchildren.

It felt good and right to stop. Reflect. Give thanks.

We'd LOOKed at their marriage for decades, but only SEEn it a handful of occasions for what it is: a beautiful testimony of love, faith, strength and more love.