Welcome to this week’s edition of the Five Minute Friday link-up!
If you’re new to the community, you can learn more about the link-up and how to join here.
This week’s Five Minute Friday writing prompt is: FIGHT
Setting my timer for five minutes, and . . . GO.
Today my son was home from school for the ninth day in a row, on Day 13 of a fever and other symptoms. His body is trying to fight, but I suspect the trauma, shock, and grief from losing his best friend last month has taken a physical toll on his body and wreaked havoc on his immune system.
This morning my husband and I signed on virtually to witness the funeral of our friends’ son in Cape Town. He was nine years old and such a bright light.
I watched my friend stand in front of hundreds of people and give testimony to her son’s infectious joy, the way he radiated happiness and brought frequent laughter. He fought valiantly against the tumor in his brain for eight years, never complaining, always smiling and dancing when his body was able.
I feel these losses, I grieve for the families, and I realize in the midst of the weight of sadness and grief, this is a fight for joy. It is a fight for hope.
I feel emotionally drained, and I am only on the periphery looking in.
We fight, but not on our own. We fight with the Lord’s strength lifting us up.
“I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10b, ESV
STOP.
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Join the link-up with your own five-minute freewrite on the prompt, FIGHT, then visit your link-up neighbor to read their post and leave an encouraging comment:
Oh Kate, my heart overflows but I have no words. I am so sorry for this painful time you and your family are experiencing.May God bless you with comfort and healing. C~
The cold dark wind blows hard and strong,
makes wounds time cannot mend,
and we know, before too long,
the fight has got to end,
and we must let the battler go,
a memory of grace,
and we were privileged to know
his bright courageous face
that we shall see again one day,
bright-shining like the sun,
and until that time we pray
that God, the Gracious One,
will never let our hearts forget
the tow’ring faith that we have met.
Kate, I am so sorry for the losses your family has experienced. Praying for the Lord to not only comfort and strengthen you all, but restore health to your son. Blessings!
Proverbs 27:17-As iron sharpens iron, so does a friend sharpens a friend. It is hard to let God heal our wounds, to let God sharpen us for the battles of this world, to cry, and to let him catch every tear.
Proverbs 56:8-You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
Knowing God bottles your every tear means your hurt is not lost.
So sorry for the prolonged grief and suffering you and your family are enduring, Kate. Praise God that you have faith and do not have to endure this alone, like those who have no hope. May the God of all hope comfort you and bring healing.