5 minute Friday: See

Vision is the art of seeing the invisible.

~Jonathon Swift

Topic:  SEE

START:

I have learned through this life that being honest with my self truly rooted in the art of seeing what I don't want to see within myself and the others in my life.

For many years, I was able to avoid seeing what made me unhappy or uncomfortable, to wear those rose colored glasses if you will, and avoid what I didn't like or want to face. 

But recently I have been pulled out of my comfort zone by other events in my life and forced to look at myself through clear eyes, to see my world and myself as they truly are.

I have come to face the insecurity, to see the fear for what it is.  I have come to see the faults and shortcomings in personalities of my family, and love them for it.

Though the process of removing the blinders and seeing everything in the cold harsh light of reality has not always been painless, it has certainly been healing.  

I have learned to see that those flaws within myself are not so horrible, they are human and through them I can grow.  I have learned to see that the world is maybe, just a little beautiful for it's imperfectedness (okay so that might not be a word, but I like it) and that I am to the core a person worthy of loving and being seen by others. 

STOP:

I you enjoy writing and like a challenge or want to join in on the fun of 5 Minute Friday's journey here.  

It's Friday, so that means today, I will be joining a group of others over at The Gypsy Mama to write for the love of writing.  The challenge is to dedicate 5 whole mintues to uninterrupted, unscripted, unedited writing.  To let the words flow from my fingertips for 5 mintues.  Each week there is a new word:  Today's word is Opportunity.  

START:

It happened again, that familiar sound of a door slamming in the distance.  She felt her stomach plummet and her fears rise like the raging waves along the pier during a storm.  She knew instinctively what that door, so violently slammed meant. Opportunity was gone, this time she knew for good.

For years she waited, hopeful and joyously anxious for that moment when Opportunity would sail into her arms, hers for the taking, forever changed and loved.  Through those same long years, filled with anxious hope at having Opportunity there forever, she learned, that Opportunity came fleetingly and was not easy to hold on to.

She began to question how much longer she could reach for opportunity only to have the door slammed again.  How much strength was left to hope?  She feared time had run out.

As the tears filled her eyes and her heart squeezed painfully in her chest, she knew this was it.  No more hope, it fled like a bird going south.  She let out a huge sigh of resignation and pulled the covers over her head.  Opportunity was not hers for the taking, it belonged to someone else.

As the tears began to flow and her mind released the hope, she faintly heard the door open, ever so softly, like a spring breeze caressing her cheek.  She was wrong, suddenly she felt alive, hope sprung back eternally, it appeared she had been wrong, opportunity hadn't fled after all.   

STOP:

"On Fridays over here a group of people who love to throw caution to the wind and just write gather to share what five minutes buys them. Just five minutes. Unscripted. Unedited. Real." The Gypsy Mama: click here to participate

Today's Inspiration: Perspective

Often it isn't the mountains ahead that wear you out,it's the little pebble in your shoe.

~Muhammad Ali

START:

Yesterday it seems, I was pushing forward, anxious to spread my wings and fly out of the nest, now I am preparing to handle my own child as she spreads her wings and takes her own flight, forging her own path and destiny.  Each of us with a different perspective of what that means, with different goals, fears and desires.

I would love to have known then, what I know now, Time is a temptress, teaser and thief to the young.  He will seduce you into thinking he is infinite and slow.  Time will lead you to believe "there is always tomorrow", the reality is Time is swift, moving at improbable speeds and tomorrow is gone before you realize it. But it is through time, that we grow, that we learn that who we once were changes and becomes greater than yesterday.  His lessons give us new perspectives.

I have learned that my ideals at 21 changed.  Marriage, parenting, adulthood, don't share the same perception in my late 30's as they did in my early 20's, but I have learned to love life, not for what I missed out on, messed up or didn't accomplish, but for each moment that I am given to do better today.  For the guarantee that everything can change and I can be okay.

As much as it hurts, my young one will spread those wings and soar into a future that is as uncertain as mine was, she will land gracefully at times and harshly at others, she will learn someday that tomorrow is a gift and not a guarantee, she will someday look back and be forced to appreciate not what she didn't do, but where she is at that moment.  Hopefully she will have a perspective for life that is purposeful not fleeting.

STOP:

"On Fridays over here a group of people who love to go all out buck wild for the fun of the written word gather to share what five minutes buys them. Just five minutes. Unscripted. Unedited. Real."  The Gypsy Mama

Today's Inspiration:  REAL

Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of somebody else.

~Judy Garland

START:

For REAL?  REAL STEAL? ARE YOU FOR REAL?  I'm Real!

The first thing that comes to mind when I see the word real is a bunch of corny sayings, but when I think about it a minute more, I see the word authentic.

Authentic is a word used often today, some may say overused, but in this day and age, finding something, anything that is authentic and real is rare, especially people.

I hate seeing people pretend to be something or someone they aren't .  I promise you, there is nothing wrong with who you are.  Everyone has their own values, beliefs, morals and standards, and they have the right to have those different from you and I.  It is okay to put your kids to bed at 9, though your neighbor does at 8.  Your not a bad parent, you are your child(ren)s parent.    It's okay if you really want to eat dinner in front of the television as a family, it won't ruin your children or your family.  It's okay to check out your childrens facebook, have them as a friend and have their password, even though other's will tell you it's an invasion of privacy.  It is okay to worship God, Believe in God and Live in God's Word.  It is okay.

I guess my point is this, it is okay to be you.  The real you.  It is okay to be who you are right now. It is okay  for you NOT to be your neighbor and to not apologize for it.  It is okay to stand on the mountain top and tell the world "I AM A CHRISTIAN!  It is okay.  It is okay to be AUTHENTIC, it is okay to be REAL!

STOP:

Side note:  That was hard!  I knew the five minutes would go by so quickly and I had a lot I wanted to expand on, but I hope that had some clarity!

Bible Verse:

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because He trusts in You.  ~ Isaiah 26:3

Today's Inspiration: Community

A community needs a soul if it is to become a true home for human beings. You, the people must git it this soul.

~Pope John Paul II

The Gypsy Mama offers a fun and creative way to write on Friday's, when your done here, head over there and challenge yourself!  The goal is to write for 5 minutes on a given topic freely, without editing or pretext, just to write to enjoy!

Topic:Community

START:

Many years ago, when I was a young mother, my then pastor's wife talked to me about what it meant to be part of a community and how I could rely on my church family to help me raise my child.  

At that time, I didn't feel the sense of community and certainly didn't understand what it was she was referring to.  I felt alone and struggled alone.  While the church was great in many ways, there definitely wasn't a sense of community.  I believed then that "Community" in the church was just a made up term to try and connect it's members.

Since then I have found a new church.  One in which the sense of community is so strong and so present that I get what she was saying then.  I have also learned, for me, community is a loose term for Family.  For that is what the members of the church have become to me, Family.

I no longer struggle alone, raise my children alone or worship alone.  No matter what needs I have, I have someone with whom I can seek for guidance, support, love or encouragement.  And on the other end, I can provide those same things to the other members of my community and family.  

Community is real and it's important and without it, I wouldn't be where I am today.  I am beyond grateful.

STOP:

Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Today's Prayer/ Praise:
Thank you Lord for this community you have given me and my children, for this extended family, for the encouragement, inspiration, education, love, purpose and home.  Without them, Without You, Without Community, I wouldn't be where I am today. 

Today's Inspiration:

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

~Martin Luther King Jr.

I have not done a 5 minute Friday in quite awhile and today I thought I would challenge myself.  The purpose is to write on a specific topic for 5 minutes straight.  Not to worry about grammar or structure, but to enjoy the process, so here goes for today:   

TOGETHER:

START:

Together with my children and family, I hope to one day make an impact on the world we live in.

I hope to instill into my children values that include looking outside of their own comfort and desires and to reach out to others who have needs greater than their own.  

I hope that with my children I can leave a legacy behind that will continue to have an impact on the world.  

I hope that my children will appreciate the efforts that I am trying to make to ensure they grow up not to be just good people, but GREAT people.

I hope that by giving to others, we will have full hearts and full lives.  No regrets and no hang-ups.

I hope that working side by side to improve not just our lives, but our neighbor's lives, our community and our world, that we will form a bond that will be impenetrable to the outside world.

I hope that my children will learn to love and accept all that I am trying to teach them and together with their future spouses and children, they can take it to the next level.

Together with determination and love, hope, guidance and desire, we will make a difference and leave an impact.

STOP:

GROWING

START:

When I think about what it means to grow, so many things instantly come to mind.  I have watched all four of my beautiful children grow both physically and emotionally.  

I have watched the tree out front grow from a tiny twig into a beautiful tree.

But where have I grown?  I have grown in my faith, my walk and my devotion to living a Christian life, but it seems that the growth has been slow and almost unnoticeable at times.  I want to continue to grow, to push through those times of stagnancy, to leap and learn and move forward.  I want to reach the heavens with my passion and remove all the roadblocks in my way.  I want to be 100 feet tall in my christian walk and I want to most of all to help others grow in their walk.  

Thank You Lord for giving me a spirit of growth, a desire to grow and an unlimited amount of room to continue growing.  

STOP: