3/11/26
3/8/26
POLITE
Word prompt--POLITE
Five minutes to free-write about it
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At first, no thoughts came to mind, but after reading Gina's post where she mentioned being a New Yorker, and the memory it triggered of New Yorkers being considered rude, many thoughts started popping in--way too many to fit into five minutes--so this may wind up being a very disjointed ramble.
Why is that association so commonly made about New Yorkers? Is it because life is so much more rushed and stressful (or was, back in the day when I lived there)? Though I never considered myself a rude person, maybe I was.
When I relocated to Virginia, there was much I needed to learn. Like slowing down and not always being in a rush, being more patient, not being so pushy when I needed something done and the person who needed to do it did not go about it as fast as I thought they should, and not always trying to be at the head of the line. For sure the pace of life was much different in this neck of the woods, and it took some time to adjust my ways.
Totally unrelated, the prompt also brings to mind how what is considered polite in one culture may not be in another. Like, for instance, the habit of burping at the table. To us here, how rude. And yet in other cultures, a loud burp after the meal is considered a compliment to the chef, as well as a way of letting the other people around the table know you enjoyed the meal and feel happy and well fed.
One last thought. Though these days, for the most part, my focus is no longer so much on me as on trying to be gentle, kind, and considerate to the people I interact with, and on being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to guide me, there is a new challenge.
Though my heart's desire is to be an encourager and to speak and act in ways that honor Jesus, point others to Him, and that give Him glory, you would never know it if you heard me on the phone, screaming and yelling in increasing frustration at the robot on the other end as I try to get it to connect me to a live person. This seems to be a test beyond all tests. Please pray for me to be able to keep my cool and turn it into a testimony.
3/4/26
2/25/26
2/23/26
BURY
This post was
Word prompt--BURY
Five minutes to free-write about it
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Disclaimer: My brain is tired, and all I could think of for this week's prompt, BURY, was the above verse (John 12:24), and this song--"Glorious Day," so I can't claim to have written anything and was going to just skip, but then thought maybe the song would encourage someone. Hope it does.
I was buried beneath my shameWho could carry that kind of weight?It was my tomb'Til I met You
I was breathing, but not aliveAll my failures I tried to hideIt was my tomb'Til I met You
You called my nameThen I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious dayYou called my nameAnd I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious day
Now Your mercy has saved my soulNow Your freedom is all that I knowThe old made newJesus, when I met You, whoa, what a day
When you called my nameAnd I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious dayYou called my nameThen I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious day
I needed rescueMy sin was heavyBut chains break at the weight of Your gloryI needed shelterI was an orphanBut You call me a citizen of HeavenWhen I was brokenYou were my healingNow Your love is the air that I'm breathingI have a futureMy eyes are open
'Cause when you called my nameI ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious dayYou called my nameAnd I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious day
2/18/26
2/14/26
BENEDICTION
Word prompt--BENEDICTION
Five minutes to free-write about it
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Wishing you this benediction from the Old Testament:
May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his
peace. (Numbers 6:24-26, NLT)
And this one from the New Testament:
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
(2 Corinthians 13:14, NLT)
And, a Happy Valentine's Day too!
2/10/26
2/7/26
LONGING
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--LONGING
Five minutes to free-write about it
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At the moment, what I am most longing for is a change in the weather. I long to be out and about again without fear of slipping on ice or being blown over by the wind.
On the other hand, I am grateful to have a warm apartment to shelter in, food in the pantry and freezer, and a comfortable bed to sleep in.
My heart and prayers go out to the homeless who have to face the elements without any of these basic blessings I too often take for granted. What to me is just a temporary inconvenience can pose life threatening risks to many of them. Thinking of that can quickly put things in their proper perspective.
2/3/26
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