Welcome to our first Five Minute Friday link-up of October! Each week we gather around a single word writing prompt, set a timer for five minutes, and feverishly write our hearts out until the timer goes off!
Sound like fun? Learn more about the link-up and how it works here.
I’m making you reach for it a bit this week, because . . .
This week’s FMF writing prompt is: TWO
Setting my timer for five minutes, and . . . GO.
I have one kid left at home, a 17-year-old in his senior year of high school. Soccer is his all-time favorite sport to play, and two weeks ago he got injured in one of his games.
At first we didn’t think it was too bad, but later that night and especially the next day, we realized there was a problem.
After three different doctors’ visits and eventually an MRI, we learned that he fractured a bone in his knee. With three weeks left of his senior year soccer season.
To say he is disappointed is an understatement.
Now he’s on crutches for three weeks and is supposed to be non-weight-bearing on that leg, which also means no driving. Back to riding with Mom everywhere.
Since he’s on crutches and I feel sorry for him, I’ve been trying to help him out as much as possible with things that are difficult to do while using crutches. Like carrying anything, for example (except a backpack).
And as I’ve taken on his chores and other responsibilities on his behalf, I’ve been thinking a lot about how many activities are so much easier to do with two functioning legs.
Washing dishes. Ironing clothes. Getting in and out of the bathtub (okay, he’s on his own for that). Carrying a plate of food to the table. Getting dressed (again, you’re on your own kid).
I so often take advantage of my relatively good health and need to spend more time thanking the Lord for these significant mercies and praying for those who deal with challenges like this on the regular.
May the Lord give us grace to be grateful for what we have and to have empathy for those in need.
STOP.
+++
In light of the difficult time my son is going through right now and for anyone else going through trials,
this week’s featured resource is:
101 Prayers for Comfort in Difficult Times
+++
Join the link-up with your own five-minute freewrite below, then visit your link-up neighbor to read their post and leave an encouraging comment:
My femur now will have two parts,
forever and forever more,
and you might think this breaks my heart,
but when the Good Lord shuts a door,
another one is opened wide
leading to a better place,
one devoid of macho pride,
one suffused with gentle grace
to help me look with love at others,
and to them hold out my hand
when yesterday would be my druthers
to not attempt to understand
that those whom I would once despise
shed their tears through Jesus’ eyes.
Three minutes flat.
Gentle grace sounds awesome.
Two more minutes! No. No. No. I’m tired of two more minutes. Why can it not just be now? The waiting is the hardest part. God keeps asking, are you ready now? Nope, sorry. Two more minutes God. One day, I will say yes, please pull the plank out. One day I will say yes, please sweep the dross off. One day, I will say yes, please take this baggage. Until then, God gets to keep waiting and hearing me say, “Two more minutes.” Thank you Lord for your long suffering. Thank you that you are always ready no matter when I finally say YES!