Tag Archives: Five Minute Friday writing prompt

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Advantage

How do we manage our advantages? We certainly have plenty of them here in our country.

We can work where we want, worship, live, eat, marry, dress ourselves and conduct ourselves as we please. These are big advantages that need careful management and self-control.

How, when, where and to what good for ourselves, community and society do we control/manage these advantages given to us?

It is a tall order. One I cannot manage in my own mind. Thoughtful, interested parents, and a quality education along with well-thought out choices can make a huge difference in our lives.

However, the best and most important guideline is the Bible. Even if one doesn’t believe in God or His Word (which is a silly notion), just knowing what it says will make the advantage we are given far more prosperous.

Don’t believe me? I challenge you to spend a year reading and rereading the book of Proverbs. One a day. You will find many answers to your questions on how to make the most of the advantages we are given for the best of ourselves, our communities and our society.

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Preserve

We have just returned from a 4-night vacation with extended family at Kiptopeke State Park on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

This is the eighth year of this most delightful, special family time. For many of us it is the only time we get to see/visit with cousins and all the wonderful children. We work hard to preserve our family ties. Not all my children come, but those of us that do have precious memories to preserve for their lifetimes.

I am thankful beyond measure.

Preserving family ties ❤️

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Rewind

We do not get a rewind on our days or how we chose to spend them once they are done. They fall into the annals of history at the end of every day. This little poem has put that thought into clear perspective for me. Perhaps it will for you too:

Yesterday is but a memory,

Tomorrow is only a vision.

But today well lived makes every yesterday a memory of happiness,

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

When I googled this poem to find the author, I found this:

Yesterday is but a dream,

Tomorrow but a vision.

But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day. —Indian Proverb

Both are very nice and thoughtful, don’t you think? I pray you seldom need to rewind your thoughts, actions, or words from this day before it passes into memory. There will surely be fewer times for a rewind with this daily thought in mind.

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Through

Sometimes the only way around a problem is right straight through it. Much as I would like to be relieved from some pressing issues or hoping they will simply vanish into thin air, pressing through them is often the only way out.

I have often sadly wondered how folk go through the many trials in life without Jesus. My life would have fallen apart years ago had Jesus not held my hand and walked through with me. Precious Jesus, hold my hand I have called out to Him over and over again. He has never let me down.

I thank God for our great-Aunt Margie who spoke and lived her life dependent on Jesus as my example. The Scripture she quoted to me so long ago have borne me through many a heartache:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, Lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path. Psalm 3:5-6

He will go every step with you. Upholding you, comforting you and strengthening you. Do you know Him? Have you called to Him? All you have to do is ask. He is waiting to hear from you today.

I will never leave you nor forsake you. —Jesus

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Someday

Someday never comes. That is what my mother used to tell me. But Scripture tells me that a desire worked on diligently will come. I have chosen to believe Scripture, though I have known the truth of Mom’s words too.

It has helped me to write down goals for my someday. Sometimes I get them, sometimes I do not. So I suppose the question I have to ask myself is this: How badly do I really want that someday to come? It must come from actions done by me. I am thinking if my someday never comes, I probably never really wanted it begin with. Dreaming is free and easy.

Does this make any sense?

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Some

John Denvers’ song “Some days are diamonds, some days are stone, sometimes the hard times won’t leave you alone” came straight to mind when I read the writing prompt for this week—some.

I was young when this song came out, and though it is about a broken relationship, the chorus were words than rang in my head during some long hard days that plague us all at times. Singing them over and over in my head helped plow through those times.

Funny this is, the other day my daughter phoned. Just the way she said “Hi, Mom” told it all. A new momma now trying to figure out her new lifestyle with a new little baby. Just having someone to vent to is a huge help, so I listened. Finally, I found myself saying to her, “Well, honey, some days are diamonds, some days are stone. Sometimes the hard times won’t leave you alone.”

She got through it, she’ll have more, she’ll get through them. By God’s good grace we all will.

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Lonely

Looking out across the field the other day, my gaze fell on one of our cows resting all alone away from the others. I felt an immediate pang of loneliness. It seems to me God has made most all His creation for community.

The idea of a person or animal being lonely is more than I can bear. This may sound silly but it is one reason I love writing little notes to family and friends. My grandchildren, I am told, carry their notes from me around all day.

We all need to know someone is near and/or thinking of us. Do you agree? The greatest comfort is knowing God is always near to those who call on Him, for He never leaves us lonely.

I was also happy to later see everyone grazing together.

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Hurry

Timer on:

“I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say hello, good-bye, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late…”

So starts the fun, little poem recited by the rabbit in a terrible hurry from Alice in Wonderland. This has been recited by me far too many times in my own life. Too often I feel like that rabbit. Do you? It seems everything is rush, rush, rush! How wearisome it becomes to always feel in a hurry. To make it worse for me, I am near retirement age. This hurry nonsense should have stopped by now.

One way I stop it is by walking every morning. HoneyPie, Buster and I take a daily walk in the mornings, rain or shine. A quiet walk helps set the pace for the day. I have always called them my ‘God walks’, as I converse with Him while watching a brand-new day wake up. Oh, how the Lord takes His time gently starting a new day! He is in no hurry.

Make the most of our time Scripture wisely tells us. Teach me to number my days so I may gain a heart of understanding.

Timer off.

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Dedicate

Timer on…

The first words that came to mind for this week writing prompt were:

“We have come to dedicate a portion of that field…”

It seems fitting the Gettysburg Address will comprise my thoughts for today. I pray all who read this will be reminded of the difficult task our early leaders toiled tirelessly for for this great country they passed to us. May we each do our part in keeping it.

“Sir, what have you given us?” a woman on the street asked Benjamin Franklin after signing the Constitution.

“A Republic, ma’am…if you can keep it”, was his reply.

Timer off…

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Respite

Timer on:

Respite. Winter is my respite. That must seem odd for some folk, but I enjoy the long winter nights with warm fires crackling in the fireplace, giving the living room a soft, warm glow. The respite is from gardening, mowing, weed-eating, bugs, ticks and never-ending weeds. Much as I love gardening, if I lived where it was warm and mild year-round I am know there would be far fewer gardens and fence rows to weed-eat.

I enjoy the seasonal work and rhythms of four seasons, and the respite that each one gives to the other. Inside winter projects are mostly fun and creative for me. Spring is now on it’s way. It is nearing time to switch gears and get back out with the plants and weeds. I have sure enjoyed my winter respite.

Timer off.