fmf | rush

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Fools rush in...

This was my very first thought to the prompt word for today.  Not sure why.  I'm not really familiar with a song, though I'm sure there is.  Or, perhaps a movie title, though I'm sure there is that, too!!   I'll tell you where my thoughts went...

First.  I asked my kids around the breakfast table - as we sat for devotions - what they thought of when they heard the word rush.   They had some great ideas.  One suggested eating too fast or a rushing stream of water.   Another thought of football or an army surge.  One said... "instead of going towards other things we need to go to Jesus, instead".  (I like how my 7yr old thinks) :)  I thought about it this way.   Having lack of control. 

 How about in the way we tend to speak before thinking and we rush in and through the conversation to give an answer... foolishly.  Oh, I'm so guilty.

I opened up to Proverbs 15... because verse one had come to mind... and instead we read the whole chapter.  Actually, we all took turns reading, my three kids and I...several verses at a time.     And while the word never was mentioned... the gist of it was there.  

A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stirs up anger.  ~ Proverbs 15:1

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but from the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 

~ Proverbs 15:2

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. ~ Proverbs 15:4

A mocker resents correction, he will not consult the wise.  ~ Proverbs 15:12

Plans fail for lack of counsel,

but with many advisers they succeed.  ~ Proverbs 15:22

A man finds joy in giving an apt reply -- and how good is a timely word! ~ Proverbs 15:23

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. ~Proverbs 15:28

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.  He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.  He who ignores discipline despises himself. but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. ~ Proverbs 15:30-32

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Do you see how I felt "reminded" by the Lord... this morning?  It starts at home.  Here in our home, our thoughts become our words.  Our words will often rush out of our mouths.... with little to no thought.  Then our words unknowingly become our actions.  

I'm grateful for the opportunity to slow down, with my children, and give heed... to God's Word for my soul; our souls.   Running or RUSHing to Jesus instead of other things... being able to think through what I'm about to speak or say... instead of just going off.

Instead of rushing to make hopeful plans - to seek counsel first.

Listening and adhering to correction will allow me to feel at home.

No more rushing  around and out the door.  

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Joining the Five Minute Friday community... today to share my thoughts on the prompt word.  

Today's Prompt is: rush

fmf | anniversary

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An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow.

When I pondered what and where I might start with this prompt word... anniversary... I went to a moment that happened just yesterday afternoon.  

I found myself in a really deep funk.  It's been a crazy, busy week (by our own doing)... lots of activities for the kids.  Things like camp, school functions (yes! you read that right!  - My 11yr old, son, is heading into middle school and so there is a lot of "training" and getting comfortable with a BIG school... as a newbie - young man!) and an evening VBS that our kids were excited to attend - again.   They remembered how much they enjoyed it last year...and wanted to go again.  But.

We're heading out to a family vacation - leaving early, early tomorrow morning.  I'm excited and ready... but, again... I've been in this deep funk and "dreading" the process of making this all happen.  Anybody, know or relate to what I'm saying?

So... yesterday afternoon.  I took a half an hour and sat out on the back porch, rocking away - totally taken away by the beauty of the skies with the colors and the clouds...

With thoughts swirling of, "I can't believe we've lived here already for over a year"; "we've talked about doing such and such - wonder when that project will ever get done?"... all while the to-do list that I should have been doing was getting done (in my head!) but not actually.   I needed to pause...

A storm had just rolled through, so the trees and plants and flowers were glistening with rain droplets that shimmered like glitter in the now filtered afternoon sunlight.  I was mesmerized.  Thoughts of everything just piling up... dreams of yesteryear... and hopes for tomorrow... all of this, collided as the screen door jolted me "awake".  I almost got rattled at the seemingly interruption.

It was my nine year old.  My beautiful girl.  The epitome of all my thoughts into one.  She was growing up way to fast.  We sat there together; on our porch rockers.  Me on one and she on the other.  The one that was all wet, but she didn't care... she would dry.  She said, with a smile! (Oh! to be so carefree... at nine years old with little to no worries or cares.)   Wasn't it just yesterday - I rocked her in my arms?  That little one, always alert and capturing everything...never missing a beat to anything.

As we talked of all the pretties, of the moment, within our view... I asked her to run in for my camera.

Together we captured, on lens, what we saw.  Of course, a teaching moment... in the how-to's... for her of using the lens (what little I know!)... and me "letting go" - of the way it should be done and letting her learn...

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

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Happy Anniversary!

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Here is to some creativity, with the camera, from both of us. 

Enjoy the photos of our lovely few minutes of yesterday afternoon.  

PS: Its hard to stop once the creative juices start flowing... 

If only we could have captured the clouds... the way they captured me, in the first place.

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Linking up with Five Minute Friday Community.  Today's prompt was: Anniversary