On Friday’s we silence the inner critic. The loudest of all naysayers. And on Fridays we remind ourselves that The Word is for us and loves us and welcomes us.
Your words are safe here.
So come and write with us. Together. On one word for five minutes. Here are all the details. And then link up your post or leave it in the comments by clicking here. But remember, the one must rule here is that you visit the person who linked up before you and encourage them in their writing.
That’s it. The gift of encouragement – pass it on.
Today the word is the one that I’m going to live out this next week in upper Michigan, beside our beloved Little Traverse Lake, with family and offline.
Today the writing prompt is EXHALE:
Go:
After the week and the packing and last load of dishes and the laundry transferred into the dryer. After the beach towels cycled through and the My Little Ponies packed. After the radio set on quiet repeat for the kids and the grown ups dancing between the toy tigers packed in piles in the lounge and the discarded cros, between yesterday and tomorrow and this last hour before bed.
There is an exhale.
And the night leans in to watch what we’re doing and we would do well to pause and watch back.
All those balls of fire flung into the heavens by the God who exhaled on a Sunday and called it, rest.
And the sky sleeps and somehow it’s still singing in its dreams and its OK to close your eyes because we’re not in charge after all. Our empty hands clasped around tomorrow hold only air and the will of a mighty God.
We’d do better to pray our emotions line up with His plans – breathe in and out and in again – all this God-given time in between right now and the next to-do on the list.
Stop.
Ah, it’s breathing in the quiet moments that is often the hardest task–sometimes because we’ve forgotten how to breathe. Praying for you as you exhale your worries and stresses and every day annoyances and breathe in the joy God has for you (even in the trials).
Marcy Nell Hanson: Five Minute Friday: Exhale is the post I am to comment on. Unfortunately, I could figure out how to on her blog.
I wanted to say that her imagery is perfect for the concept of take a deep breath, and exhale. I’ll drink an iced coffee and think of the chaos and love of her gathering this weekend.
I may have gotten the comment link to work! I hope so. I don’t want Marcy Nell Hanson to think I didn’t read and comment on her post.
We need those moments to exhale. And yet there are times when we, as moms, feel we are not allowed to take that time. As years as gone by, I have noticed that I am giving myself that time – and I am better for it.
Goodness, I love your writing .. ;-)
Breathe in. Hold it. Anxiety. Pressure. Tension.
Exhale. Slowly. I melt into the moment. I’ve been on a new mind frame this summer-a mind frame to move slowly, to be more in the moments. I’ve struggled with purpose the last few years, and I am starting to see more clearly that my purpose doesn’t grow out of my to do list or my gadgets. It grows out of being fully where I am with who and what really matters. So I take that breath, and focus instead on life, on the exhale.
Thanks for giving me the perfect word to write my “I’m taking a week off from my blog to go on vacation with my family” post. I needed that word.
We’re not in charge after all.
Inhaling that.
Welcome back to Michigan. :)
Lisa Jo , I need this time to write and thanks for the Word!
EXHALE
Breathe out. oh yes, that ‘s right, I have forgotten to do that these past few days. I wondered what was missing. My body was tight, I had forgotten to exhale. Let it out. One of mine is suffering from addiction. How much I want him to succeed this time at sobriety! As if it was all on me, the one who loves the most. But it’s not. So I have to breathe. I have to breathe in too, inhaling, that goes with the breathing out, exhaling. They go together. Of course, my body will just take little breaths in, forgetting to let it out. It was something that I was not focused on, exhaling. Until I thought about it and tried to remember to exhale fully. During this stressful time, it is not as stressful if I breath in and out fully. Then my body will relax and my mind can think too. Think about hope, faith and love, the gifts that make my world function peacefully!
Thanks Lisa Jo
“its OK to close your eyes because we’re not in charge after all. Our empty hands clasped around tomorrow hold only air and the will of a mighty God.” Just so much Amen (but oh how quickly I can forget this!)
Love you so!
Blessings, Lisa Jo! Thanks for hosting this great link-up. It is a writing discipline that I have not often afforded myself, being of a perfectionist and loquacious nature. But, I love the poetic release. I’m used to writing for teaching when it comes to it, and I’ve kept my more creative muse boxed up more times than not. Today, though – I am not trying to explain too much. And – wow – what a cleansing “exhale” – taking joy!
Joy!
Kathy
Yes, yes, yes! We surely don’t hold tomorrow (or today or next month) in our hands, but just as surely, we can trust the One who does.
I’m not linking up today, but I plan to participate next time!
Thanks for being so faithful in hosting, Lisa-Jo!
“We’d do better to pray our emotions line up with His plans…”
Perfect! Thank you.
I wish I would remember and take time to do Five-Minute Friday more often. But I did it today, so that’s good. One week at a time…
Inhale.
Exhale.
Thank you Lisa, this word was EXACTLY what I needed to actually DO! I forget how important it is to release, so we can allow new, fresh IN. What a great release.
Thank you and bless you and your family on your vacations!
Erika Marie
You write such wonderful stuff.
The linkup is not working for me.
So i am hitchhiking here
http://scraps-from-life.blogspot.com/2014/07/good-day-charm.html
Thank you
LOVE this: “We’d do better to pray our emotions line up with His plans – breathe in and out and in again – all this God-given time in between right now and the next to-do on the list.” I’m so glad I found FMF. Your prompt words help me to think through. And many times, the word is just what I needed to ‘exhale’ those thoughts going around my head at that very moment. :)