Overcome-Five Minute Friday's prompt

Ah, yes, here I am again on Sunday. Too tired to post on Friday and needing more time to think. This week's prompt is........

overcome

Google defines it as: succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty; defeat of an opponent or prevail

John 16:33 "But take heart, I have overcome the world." (NIV)

I can't take the credit. When I think of the BIG problems in my life, I didn't succeed in dealing with them. I couldn't. The only way I made it through was because of the opportunities made available to me by God.

When my parents divorced and I needed a new place to go, Christian neighbors stepped in and said, "You can stay here as long as you need to."

When I needed money to go to college, I did some work study, but again, others provided through scholarships, grants, loans, and a sizable donation from my church.

When I needed to get a Masters within five years to keep my certification, a friend came by and told me about a special grant program. I got my Masters in one year for free.

STOP

James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (NIV)

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus." 

After writing this I later recalled an interview with Fred Rogers about looking for the helpers. I know God has been faithful to send them to me through the years and with that gracious provision, we are all helped! Hope you enjoy the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LGHtc_D328

To see how others have overcome, check out www.fiveminutefriday.com

Discover-Five Minute Friday

I began thinking of this late last night and what I have discovered in over four decades on the planet. There have been so many tokens and lessons through the years, but this morning I felt more inclined to write about my singleness.

discover

Discover is defined as finding something or someone unexpectedly in the course of a search.

In my search of "Mr. Right" through the years I have found myself single for a really long time.

I discovered that I have developed deeper friendships with some for over twenty years that some marrieds don't even enjoy with their spouses or others.

I discovered some I know would become widows in their thirties or forties and I would be reminded of my relationship with God to be the only one without a good-bye forever.

I discovered in my late twenties I couldn't make a guy like or fall in love with me. When someone doesn't it really is OK! There are other people who do like me and love to have me around.

I discovered years after the ones I hoped would work out and didn't, that it was really God's protection. I would've been miserable as we were so not a good match. Being single is far better than being in a miserable marriage.

STOP

Ran out of time, but wanted to add............

I've discovered from watching and listening to others that both marriage and singleness are hard, just in different ways. God told us we would have trouble in this world. Sometimes when you're married there is even more drama to deal with. I am reminded to ask myself, "What and how much do I want to deal with?".

I also discovered that in not having children of my own to read stories to at night and tuck into bed or bake cookies with and build snowmen on cold, winter days, that I am so thankful for the children in my class every year. We have baked banana bread and pizza. We always read lots of stories together. When snow arrives, we go out to the playground to develop our vocabulary and sequencing skills used in building snowmen.

A few have remarked to me over the years, "You're so lucky you don't have kids." or "You smart lady, you!", but I do not see myself as either of those. I have carried a hole in my heart for decades now which causes me to be more appreciative of the students I so enjoy. Hopefully, they know how much they are valued and loved.

Finally, I've discovered that the moments of loneliness have been tolerable. It's not the end of the world, but I know what it's like to eat alone day after day after day. I reach out more now to people who have experienced the same. I always look forward to sharing meals with some very dear and lovely ladies I know whenever I can.

Perhaps a "Mr. Right" will still come along. Perhaps not. All I know is I get to choose how I will live today. God is the one I come back to day after day.

Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

To see what others have discovered check out www.fiveminutefriday.com

Invite-Five Minute Friday on Sunday

Oh how I needed more time for this one! I was up half the night Saturday wrestling with what I could write and how I could communicate what this word means to me. 

I was brought back to life defining invites I have received through the years. We never know what someone or something can lead to unless we take a few steps down the path to explore. I remembered how each decade there have been some pretty significant invitations I've received and taken people up on over the course of my life. I ran out of time to share all of them. Again, I am thankful and I see each one as a token, wonderful blessings that I cannot deny or forget.

invite......

The First Decade-

She was warm and loved to have me stay over. My Aunt Onie let me sleep in a cushy twin bed with a pink, satin pillowcase. I'd awake to the best scrambled eggs with toast and coffee in the morning. Her home was a place of comfort and safety. I always wanted to escape there.

The Second Decade-

A new family welcomed me to stay with them as long as I needed to when my birth parents were not able to take care of me any longer. They invited me to church and my journey of faith in coming to know the great One began.

The Third Decade-

A friend stopped by my home to tell me about a special grant program at a nearby university. I checked it out and discovered ESL was my niche! I got my Masters for free in one year and have been teaching ESL ever since.

STOP

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy winning milk without money and without cost." (Isaiah 55:1 NIV)

I didn't have time to add the other decades, but wanted to include them here and so this is after the timer rang.

The Fourth Decade-

I developed uterine fibroids that grew to be the size of a six month pregnancy. I was just a little bit uncomfortable to say the least. A friend recommended a wonderful doctor and I was given the option of an abdominal myomectomy. Never having surgery before, I felt challenged in my faith walk to go ahead with the surgery and leave the results to God. I almost backed out, but was encouraged by Hebrews 11:1 as a promise. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." I went through the surgery and my doctor came out of the OR to tell my mom, "It went so well, it makes me nervous." God did not miraculously take away my fibroids. He walked through the fire with me and I came out feeling stronger and better than ever. 

During this time I also had orthodontia performed which was very painful as well. For over three years I went through several types of wires, tightening, rubber bands, teeth removed and finally retainers. I got through and was left with a nice smile that I am happy to share and bless others with.

I am so glad I looked to God and invited Him to walk with me through those hard times.

In this Fifth Decade-

I was invited to take part in the Edible School Yard Academy at Berkeley in California. After five days there, I did not want to come home. I had tasted of farm fresh organic produce, spent time in a children's garden, and fell in love with every part of it. I was invited to not only taste and see how good real food is, but to embrace principles of sustainable agriculture and invite others to do the same.

I began to shop at a farmer's market before finally joining a local CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) and composting at home. I am healthier and so is my community for the waste I now reduce.

I am so thankful for the comfort, the food and the healing that have come to me  through other's love and God's grace in my own life.

To see what others do to invite check out www.fiveminutefriday.com

Story-Five Minute Friday

story..........

We love to hear them! Sometimes they captivate us and we are taken away to a whole other world. C.S. Lewis' books did that for me this summer, along with another one called "Hold the Rein Free" by Judy Van Der Veer. All children's lit, but so very enjoyable.

How's my own story? Well, that's another story. It's been anything but predictable as I look back over the past few decades. Parts of it I love, some parts are neither here nor there, and then there are other parts down right depressing and overwhelming. Some very good lessons have been learned, but I can't see past the blasted chapter I'm in now and therefore am struggling.

STOP

Here are a few of my favorite children's stories, if you are ever so inclined:

• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
• Oh, the Places You'll Go-Dr. Seuss
• CS Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia (all 7!)
• The One and Only Ivan- KA Applegate
• Hold the Rein Free-Judy Van Der Veer
• Charlotte's Web-EB White
• Black Beauty-Anna Sewell

To see what others' stories entail check out www.fiveminutefriday.com