PERSIST

This post was written for Five Minute Friday 

Word prompt--PERSIST

Five minutes to free write about it 

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Can you see that teeny spot of green on the upper left (facing you) at about the level of the shadow on the side of the pot? It's a tiny sprout pushing its way through the soil when I had just about given up on seeing any signs of life appear. 

The seeds in the flower rocket I put in that pot were planted at the same time as the seeds I planted in this window box. Same soil, same exposure.

I don't know what happened to the rest of the seeds that were in the rocket, but this intrepid little adventurer decided not to follow the crowd. It persisted and persevered until it broke through the darkness surrounding it and emerged into the light.

Though its growth has been much slower than that of the other sprouts in the window box, it keeps persisting in its journey upward, always turning to face the sun as I rotate the pot. A good visual reminder for me to follow its example and, keep my face on the Son, and to remain steadfast and persistent as well.  

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the

right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't

give up, -- Galatians 6:9, NLT

LOOKING AT THE THINGS THAT I HAVE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday 

Word prompt--HAVE 

Five minutes to free write about it 

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This week's prompt reminded me of John 16:33 which quotes Jesus as saying, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (NLT)." 

Life has been feeling pretty rough lately, and I have been having a hard time navigating through this winter season of it. I do not have much to show for what started out with so much promise--good health, a good education, and many talents and opportunities. 

Most of my present challenges are consequences of poor choices I made in my youth, so there is no one but myself to blame. Regrets, however, are futile. What's done is done and cannot be undone. 

My remorse is mixed with gratitude for God's unmerited mercy, grace, favor, patience, and unconditional love, and the one good choice I did make, which was to accept the gift of salvation and invite Jesus into my heart. 

It is hard to believe that despite the mess I've made of my life, God has never given up on me. I would certainly have done so a very long time ago.

When I'm tempted to feel hopeless, I think of my many blessings and how much easier I have it than so many other people I know. I have an amazing daughter who goes out of her way to try and help me as much as she can, as well as a son and a slew of grands and great-grands I love with all my heart. And most of all, I have Jesus. He is the greatest gift of all.

A GLIMMER OF HOPE

Spring is so pretty. A season of hope and renewal; a time of new beginnings.

I've really missed not being able to go out and take pictures, but on this beautiful day the Lord gave me the gift of a short reprieve. 

My physical therapy appointment went surprisingly well, and I left the office free of pain and with a glimmer of hope. For the first time in a long time I was able to go for a short walk and capture these shots of all the beauty surrounding me. 

REALIZE

 

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--REALIZE

Five minutes to free write about it

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For a very long time I've had a philodendron (or at least that's what I'd always thought it was). It was always one of my favorites because of the two-tone color of the leaves--some light and some dark.

I grew it from a cutting.  

After many years had gone by it started to bloom. This took me by surprise because I never realized philodendrons could bloom.

I posted pictures on social media, and someone responded that it looked like peace lily blooms, which I agreed with, but this was a philodendron--not a peace lily. Nevertheless, her comment kept mulling around in my mind.

When I was watering it the other day I took a really good look, and sure enough, I realized, she was right. What was in the pot was a combination of a philodendron and a peace lily. How that happened remains a mystery. I don't recall ever putting cuttings of two different types of plants in the same pot.

Makes me think of all the times I've jumped to conclusions or made assumptions about things without realizing the truth behind them, and then experienced a range of emotions--mostly remorse or regret--when I realized how wrong I had been.

A DISAPPOINTING BREAK OF DAY

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--BREAK

Five minutes to free write about it

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Views of the sunrise from my balcony are usually pretty spectacular, so not yet having participated in this week's FMF challenge, I was excited to be up early enough to witness the break of day. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? My plan was to spend my five minutes capturing an amazing daybreak to share with you all instead.

Well, so much for that. 

There were no deep pinks or purples or oranges or reds streaking across the sky. I think it may be the first time I've ever witnessed such an unremarkable break of day. 

I am grateful for the gift of a new day, and that there was a daybreak at all, and that I was up early enough to catch it such as it was. And, I'm sure there must be a lesson in all this. I'm just not sure what that may be? If any of you have any thoughts, please do share.