Tag: 5 Minute Fridays

Brave is the Woman Who Bears Her Unplanned Baby {Five Minute Friday}

It’s that time again. Time to join The Gypsy Mama – Lisa-Jo Baker – and several other writers to write for five minutes on a certain topic. Today’s topic is Brave. This post comes from the depths of my heart. I am in a season of deep grieving for aborted babies right now. Brave is the woman who makes a different choice. You are the bravest woman I know.

I do not have any inkling of what it is like to carry an unplanned baby. I will not even attempt to describe that feeling except to say there must be fear. There must be uncertainty.

But when I held my own first-born for the first time I had a glimpse of what it might feel like for someone to come by and take her out of my arms. For permanent. The thought made the tears well, my stomach knot, even fighting gloves come on.

I thought about all those women – those brave women – who make the choice to bear their unplanned babies only to have someone take them away – for good.

Brave.

Those women who selflessly lay their own ridicule, belittlement, and shame aside to deliver into this world the soul placed within them when they could have made a different choice.

Brave.

Those women who for nine months endure the glares, listen to the lectures, stand in the face of the unknown knowing that they can’t provide in nine months but there’s Someone who can.

Brave.

Then I think of Mary. Wasn’t she one of these women? Sure, the circumstances were different, but were the feelings not the same? One thing that she had further against her was an even more relentless culture. But she trusted. She trusted God.

Brave.

For any woman who decides to bear an unplanned baby only to give him to someone else to hear the coos and see the smiles and smell the sweet baby breath, you are brave.

For any woman who decides to bear an unplanned baby only to keep her not knowing how you will provide, not knowing where the food will come from, not knowing if you’ll be safe, you are brave.

You are brave for taking the more fearful path. You are brave for not accepting a quick fix. You are brave for taking responsibility. You are brave for looking head-on past this temporal world and into eternity. You are brave because you trust. You are the strongest kind-of-a-woman I know.

You are brave.

May 3, 2013
All God Says is “Jump” {5 Minute Friday}

Today is Five Minute Friday where writers write for only five minutes forgetting everything technical and focusing only on the inspirational. Today’s topic is: Jump.

My perfectionism is the culprit of me not being in a relationship with God the way He desires for me to be. I tell myself that when my spiritual life is organized – I create a prayer journal, I find a small group at church that “just clicks”, or there is finally time to complete every single day of my 365 day Bible reading plan – then I’ll be ready to know God. I’ll feel His presence, and He will speak to me. I’ll be holy enough then.

Each day I go in search of the newest and greatest to make this happen. I read blog posts, download printables, listen to podcasts. I try this friend’s “way” and that friend’s “way”. I even make up a few ways myself.

But I’m left just spinning a wheel. A wheel with no end. My effort to get into a perfect relationship with God leaves me without one at all.

When in the back of my mind, in an every so quiet whisper, all God says is “Jump!”

Jump in with all my imperfection. Jump in with all my baggage. Jump in with all my doubts. Just jump.

And let Him take care of the rest. The rest that I need. The rest I will receive from coming to Him.

How is God telling you to jump today?

April 19, 2013
Here, My Higher Calling {Five Minute Friday}

Today is Five Minute Friday where writers write for only five minutes forgetting everything technical and focusing only on the inspirational. Today’s topic is: Here.

My days are spent working, learning, achieving, reaching for this Higher Calling I yearn for. Yet it doesn’t come easily. One step forward, two steps back, and I wonder where He is in all of it. Doesn’t He see my heart? Doesn’t He know my needs? Doesn’t He want to bless me?

My default looks to the right and to the left seeing all of them leaping forward toward their Higher Callings, too. Except they just keep propelling forward. No backward motion for them. Jealousy becomes my best friend. I wonder again, “Where are You?”

Then I notice the small garden that I live in with a tree or two and some azaleas growing around the corners. “I am here”, He says, “and this is your Higher Calling”.

It may not be in magazine articles or blog statistics or book contracts or speaking engagements. It may not be in name knowing or popularity, but my Higher Calling is here.

It’s in the cry that tells me my Baby Girl wants to be held. It’s in the discouraging look my husband brings home from work. It’s in the single women who meet at my house every other week for small group.

My Higher Calling is here.

So when you look around and don’t see the Higher Calling you have set for yourself, look again. Find Him here. And here will be your Higher Calling.

How does this speak to you today? What is your Higher Calling here?

April 12, 2013
5 Minute Friday :: Wonder

Welcome to 5 Minute Friday where we write for five minutes – no editing, no fretting, no criticism – we just write about one word. Join us today with Lisa-Jo and dozens of others as we write about Wonder.

About nine months ago it all started. I looked down to see two lines on a little plastic stick. And I began to wonder.

The days ahead unknown. Who was this tiny soul now living inside of me? Was she a she or was he a he? How big would we get? Is it going to be that painful, really, pushing life from inside out into the world? What if I can’t do it?

I knew that when I saw the leaves change the time would be near. Driving down the two-lane road towards our house colors of red and orange, gold and brown adorned the grassy sides. My sign that it was time.

The wonder continued.

I held her all blue and bloody close to me that November day. She shivered and I shhhh’d as I patted her leg and they dried her off. With the cut of the cord I wondered some more. No longer attached to me physically it was the first sign of her journey. The journey God had ordained hundreds of days before.

I wonder where He will take her.

Now it’s late at night. I look down and she slurps, gulps, and pauses – not in a hurry for anything. I hear the heat come on and off. Outside is dark. Inside is silent. I want to freeze time. I notice the wrinkle above her nose is almost gone. I knew that when I saw her wrinkle disappear I would know she was growing bigger.

I lift up a prayer for this baby girl now in my arms growing with each slurp and gulp, and I wonder about her days ahead. Days already written, already planned, not a mystery for Him, just for us. And I wonder what her purpose will be in all of this. All of these days now set before her that will one day be a signature on eternity.

Whatever her purpose. Whatever the reason she’s here. God already knows. It is one that only she could fulfill in these years she’s given.

I continue to wonder.

What is it today that you’re wondering about?

November 30, 2012
Five Minute Friday :: Race of Motherhood

Today is Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo! Our topic is Race, and we’re writing for five minutes without interruption, edits, or worries. Will you join us?

Last year I ran a race. It was a long race. It was a hard race. There were a lot of hills.

I trained for months, running up and down streets, pushing to go longer and harder. On race day I didn’t stop once.

When I crossed the finish line, and I put on the brakes allowing my legs to stop, they could barely hold me up. They wobbled, and I remembered when Bambi first stood up to walk.

I gasped for air and immediately tears began streaming down my face. I couldn’t believe it was over. I made it. The finish line was now behind me.

In two short weeks from today (according to the calendar) I will run a race of a different kind. But this one will not end as quickly. It will continue for the continuation of my life and then even further, into eternity. And the prize of the finish line will come before I even begin running – in the form of a baby.

Of course the first hill will no doubt be the most difficult – physically – as I push this new life out into the world – unmedicated and in water. But that will only be the beginning. The first hill.

As I look at the race I am about to begin – the race of motherhood – I feel much less prepared than I did last year running that race on asphalt and concrete. This race I didn’t really prepare for. I didn’t really know how.

So then, is this really a race at all, or more of a ride? A ride of a lifetime with ups and downs and curves and detours. A ride with Someone else steering the train. Someone else carrying me to places I am unprepared to go?

I think it has to be.

For this race will not end. And my legs will not be able to sustain me. My Someone, my Savior, will have to carry me. I’ll just enjoy the ride.

What race are you running right now?

October 12, 2012
Five Minute Friday: Welcome

Five Minute Friday is here again. We write for five minutes on a given topic. The difference? We write from our souls where’s there’s no worry or correcting or contemplating. It is Lisa-Jo’s idea, and she writes here. Will you join us? Today’s topic is Welcome.

Welcome to this world, little baby girl. Welcome to this place prepared just for you. Welcome to the wood and brick built up to keep you safe and sound. Welcome in, to the love, that these walls witnessed before you were known.

Welcome to a calling that you will one day know. A special purpose laid in your bones before time here began.

Welcome to a life that’s beauty covers its muddle. A life that’s confusion has peace only through a Savior.

Welcome to the mystery. The mystery we contemplate each day of why we’re here, what we’re doing, and what this all means.

Welcome to your adventure. One that must be lived. The days of fall and days of triumph. Days that will prepare you.

Welcome to salvation. Our only hope of getting through and to a place of Glory.

Welcome in, to the Love, the only Love, that will carry you.

What are you welcoming today?

October 5, 2012