Our Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—SLOW. We simply write for 5 minutes on a prompt and see what is created! I've enjoyed doing these quick writings. If you would like to give it a try, check out the Facebook page or this blog: Kate Motaung’s site.
Slow is not me. I am quick. I multi-task. I make lists. I complete my lists, before the due date. I walk fast. I pass people in the hallway. My husband says I drive fast, but really, I just go the speed limit. Most of the time.
So perhaps I need to SLOW DOWN.
The upcoming season of Lent is a perfect time for me to SLOW my thinking, my pace, my soul.
I will take time to slow down and walk WITH someone I approach in the hallway. Not pass them up to quickly get to my all-so-important (not) destination.
I will take time to stop by church and pray awhile before I head home after school or after being in town.
I will slow down when I drive to take better notice of the beauty around me.
I've noticed that when I take the TIME to BE, that things DO get done in spite of it! So I will probably still make those lists, but instead of letting the list control me, I will be the one in control of that list.
I'll take the TIME to SLOW myself. I will be aware of the path that perhaps God is calling me to....instead of zoom by it, not even noticing the option.
Our Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—WEAK. We simply write for 5 minutes on a prompt and see what is created! I've enjoyed doing these quick writings. If you would like to give it a try, check out the Facebook page or this blog: Kate Motaung’s site.
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Weak. It seems that no one likes to admit that they are "weak" in any area of life. I am weak in my resistance to sweets. I am weak in my resolve to pray the rosary every day. I am weak in many areas of life. Now, I'm not weak 24-7 in these areas. There are days/hours that I am STRONG! I resist that candy, I put prayer first in my agenda.
Where does this strength come from? Am I born with an inner reserve of strength for those times I need it? Did my upbringing train me for resolve and strength in my endeavors? Do the people around me encourage and therefore strengthen me as I journey through life?
Yes, all of these are true....but.....
I know that my real inner strength comes from God. When my children were very small, the very first bible verse I taught them was Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I firmly believe this....whether it's resisting a sweet, keeping my mouth shut and not gossiping, or making it through the sorrow of a death, my REAL strength lies in Jesus Christ. For when I am weak, then I AM STRONG!
Our Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—BREATHE. We simply write for 5 minutes on a prompt and see what is created! I've enjoyed doing these quick writings. If you would like to give it a try, check out the Facebook page or this blog: Kate Motaung’s site.
When I think of breathing, what comes to mind this morning is the sense of smell. Our sense of smell is a precious gift! Today I'm thankful for all of those smells in my life that manifest themselves in the many blessings I experience.
One of the most precious smells to me is the smell of a baby. That precious life. The sweet smell of a baby after a bath. But also, the smell of a dirty diaper (all's working well with the digestion), or the smell of dried on food on clothing (solid food here we come!). I treasure these smells...from my own children, from my grandchildren, and from any baby I see!
The smell of my husband. Sometimes he asks me if he "smells"! AKA, "Do I need to take a shower?? " Regardless of if he needs a shower, though, he has a smell unique to him. That wonderful smell the stirs up my love for him when we are close. The smell of love.
The smells of nature....totally worth stopping and breathing in....freshly mown grass....the air after a rain...flowers in bloom....the ocean (how I miss that smell!)....fish that have been caught...wet fur on a pet....even the manure of horses and cows. One of my most treasured memories is of one of our granddaughters, Martha, commenting while we were on a road trip of the smell of manure as we drove by a feedlot of something (can't remember what it was)...she said, "AH, the smell of home!" She obviously treasured that smell, and it meant more to her than messy, smelly cow poop!
What are your favorite smells?
