On Fridays around these parts we like to write. Not for comments or traffic or anyone else’s agenda. But for pure love of the written word. For joy at the sound of syllables, sentences and paragraphs all strung together by the voice of the speaker.
We love to just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. For five minutes flat.
Here’s how we do it:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog’s footer}.
3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.
OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:
Beloved…
GO:
He’s nearly seven and a half and he’s sitting on the sofa next to his dad tonight. They’re sitting so close, Jackson may as well give in and scoot over onto Pete’s lap. I interrupt the reading to laugh and say to my oldest son, “So, was that you who petted my hair this morning?” He giggles as his dad raises eyebrows at him.
“Yea, yea, I did,” he grins.
He looks at me over top of his glasses and goes on, “And then I kissed you on your cheek.”
By now his dad is grinning too, and what takes it over the top is to hear him say, “Then I turned around and did back-to-back snuggles with you,” and his dad and I are both laughing so hard as he laughs along and pushes his glasses back up his nose with that index finger.
I’m holding all this love in both hands and it’s spilling over between my fingers.
The baby girl is snoring so loudly I can hear her. Micah cups a hand on my cheek as I kneel between the icicle lights that drape his lower bunk and pray protection over his bad dreams. Pete is waiting down the hallway and in the bed we’ve had since we got married. Fourteen years ago yesterday he knelt in the snow and asked me to marry him. Fourteen years ago I pushed glasses back up my nose just like the son we didn’t know then would be sitting on our sofa tonight and telling tales of how he loves his father’s wife.
I hadn’t been able to see Pete properly through my fogged up glasses at the time.
I hold yesterday and tomorrow in both hands today.
So much spilling over.
STOP.
So beautiful. Just. So. Beautiful.
My son’s have been giving me spontaneous hugs while I have been working in the kitchen lately, and I’ve wondered (and hoped) if they’ll still be doing that when they are gangly teenagers, or young men coming to visit with their wives. I think I’d be happy to grow old, just for those times.
Oh, how wonderful, Lisa-Jo. His love for his mother isn’t just because…it is part of who he is as you described. Love reading about his traits being the same as yours….a mother’s bond with her child is truly beloved. Thanks for sharing :)
oh, my…you are blessed, a kiss on the cheek, and back-to-back snuggles…yes, your cup does run over…blessings to you and your adorable family, Lisa-Jo…Thanks for hosting, and picking such awesome words every week :)
My youngest boy kept telling me how much he loved me tonight. Such a precious post.
Love the collage!!
Awesome post. Love the imagery. You’re so expressive. Enjoyed the prompt, even though it nearly brought tears to my eyes. I’m so freaking out about my mom’s surgery right now. I wish I were there. But, I have to have surgery on Wednesday. I must put all my faith in God and let Him watch over my mom and me.
Beautiful post. Loved the picture of “It is well” charm. I have one…I wear it for my dad. It was his favorite song…(I was one of his beloveds)…and I also got a You Are My Sunshine charm….my mom’s favorite song (I was her beloved as well). I wear them on a chain together. Thank you for leading me to the charm.
I had to read this twice, it was such an amazing image of your family. The way you capture the small moments in life is breathtaking and a reminder to pay more attention.
Isn’t it wonderful how God loves us in such a way that he gives us those who we love so fully and completely that we can almost see how He feels about us. I love this word. I am a first time participant. Thank you for hosting this link up.
Hug
Grace
Thanks for writing again Lisa Jo. Your words always make me want to savor my boys like the last piece of baklava–slowly, sweetly, deeply. Beyond grateful for Five Minute Friday and all it does in me.
Lisa-Jo, I believe that today people all over cyberspace are singing songs like “His Banner Over Me Is Love” and “Beloved … let us love one another (let us love one anuuuther). For love is of God …” Are you singing, too? ;)
Love this one. Thank you for sharing a small part of your story.
Lisa Jo,
Thank you for continuously providing a place for the women of the online world to pour out love for God and each other. Appreciate you!
This one had me crying. So real and simple. http://bellesbazaar-heather.blogspot.com/2014/03/beloved-5-minute-prompt.html