Five Minute Friday Present

           There have been times in my life where the presence of a, oved one gave me hope. I also remember times where I handled situations with more grace because a friend was there, and I didn't want to fall apart in front of a friend. The day that this happened, I was thinking about the situation and wondered how my reactions to the messes and interruptions would be different if I remember that God has promised that He is with me. Because I have the promise of God's presence, I can offer the gift of presence to others that God has put in my life. This December I want to put my phone away and be unplugged with my children and family. Who do you want to be present with during this season of advent?






Comments

  1. Wemi OmotoshoDecember 4, 2020 at 2:02 AM

    'Because I have the promise of God's presence, I can offer the gift of presence to others that God has put in my life' - I hadn't thought of it that way before, thank you for this perspective. Wemi, visiting from FMF #3

    ReplyDelete
  2. FionaDecember 4, 2020 at 2:29 AM

    So true also about our need for another to sit with us in the presence.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SusanDecember 4, 2020 at 4:30 AM

    It's ministry, I tell you. Being present. All-in. No distractions. Your children are blessed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jennifer CookDecember 4, 2020 at 4:49 AM

    Lovely scene of grace imagined when we are in front of loved ones. I'd like to be more present with my family too. As always they are my #1 present! Jennifer FMF #6

    ReplyDelete
  5. AndrewDecember 4, 2020 at 6:51 AM

    I've found that sometimes the best present I can leave is my absence.

    Lord, please place on me the grace
    for friends, to let my presence stay,
    but also let me know my place,
    and when to keep away,
    for there were times when I had thought
    that I had been needed,
    but subtle signs that I ought
    to leave had gone unheeded,
    and I stood in embarrassment,
    having been made aware
    that a place had not been set,
    nor an open chair,
    and it was time for me to go
    back out into the falling snow.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amie WillsDecember 4, 2020 at 8:01 AM

    I echo Susan's comment above. We call it the ministry of presence in my circles. God bless you.

    Amie, FMF #13

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Five Minute Friday Grief

Image
           "But, I don\"t want to write about grief." I thought as I read Kate\"s Five Minute Friday post this week. I know deep in my soul grief is a necessary part of healing, but it was one that I would much rather skip if I’m being totally honest. I have people counting on me. I don’t have time to fall apart I tell myself. I got to keep moving. I need to distract myself. If I start crying how will I make myself stop. I am ashamed that this still hurts. It has been almost three years. He has moved on. Life has moved on. Why is it so hard for me to move forward? In these moments I need to remember that God is with me. I need to remember that there is no set time table for grief. I need to stop holding on and just be held.
Read more

Day 11 Try New Things Once

Image
              I like predictably. I like routines. I do not have much of an adventurous spirit. I laugh that my girls are much more open to trying new things than I am. Their motto is to try things once. I have ridden roller coasters at theme parks because my children have wanted to go on them. I have researched and then participated in activities that my kids have wanted to try. My eldest daughter and I have even discovered we both enjoy sushi because she had always wanted to try it. I am thankful that my children are adventurous and they encourage me to be a more adventurous person
Read more

What fills me up? (Five Minute Friday Full

Image
" It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition is gone, pride is gone." -C. S. Lewis           This is my favorite quote by C. S. Lewis. I was reading Mere Christianity about a year ago, and these words leaped off the page and made an imprint on my mind and heart.  As some of you may know, I am a single mom. My children's father has parenting time during school vacations. On these vacations he takes them to theme parks, lets them stay up as late as they want and basically is a very fun Dad. I sometimes wish that I could be the fun "theme park parent." I am the parent that needs to enforce bed times, helps them with homework and reminds them to be kind to each other. I can't afford to take them to a theme park. C. S. Lewis' words remind me that when I am comparing myself to my ex-husband, I have lost focus on what really is important. Co-parenting is not a competition. My pride is not h...
Read more