Since childhood, I’ve known the words to the old hymn, Love Lifted Me. But the older I get, the more those words mean to me. The Lord’s love lifts my spirits when I’m feeling down. It encourages me when I’m tempted to give up. It causes me to pause throughout the day and just thank HIm and praise Him.
Love from other people lifts me, too, as does the love I feel for others. Love for the work I do lifts me.
How does love lift you?
I wrote this post (in approximately five minutes) in response to a one-word prompt (disagree) from Kate Motaung. For more information and to read other posts, visit www.fiveminutefriday.com
Disagreements are unavoidable, aren’t they? When they arise, I remind myself of these four bits of wise counsel:
(1) “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity [love]” (circa 1627).
(2) “Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t be mean when you say it.” (I don’t know the source, but a fellow member of the Toastmasters club I attend shares that advice when it’s time to evaluate speeches made during the meeting.)
(3) “A soft answer turns away wrath, / But a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1, NKJV).
(4) "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people” (Romans 12:18, CSB).
NOTE: Below is my response to the June 4, 2021, writing prompt (slow) provided by Kate Motaung on her website, http://fiveminutefriday.com/ This first (and short) attempt at getting words on a page is “nothing to brag about.” However, I plan to include, in a longer piece, these thoughts—and others I could not type in only five minutes. By participating each week in Five Minute Friday, I’m learning that writing even a few words matters! Those words, however, lackluster, can be turned into a thoughtful, polished, piece!
Slow. Interesting word, isn’t it?
A friend says sadly, “I’m as slow as pond water.”
Years ago, when my youngest daughter was reluctant to climb out of her cozy bed, especially on school mornings, but would finally drag herself to the breakfast table, I’d teasingly say, “Honey, you’re as slow as molasses on a cold winter morning.”
Once, when talking with a friend, we agreed we were like “two ol’ turtles living in the fast lane.”
So, I wonder, can being slow be a good thing? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.
For example, the Bible says God is slow to become angry. But He is not slow regarding His promises. Being slow to obey is not good. But being slow (sure/careful/methodical) is.
Do you get weary of trying to figure out what’s going on in this crazy, mixed-up world? I do!
Like the writer of Ecclesiastes, I’ve concluded it’s pointless to even try to figure out all this stuff that makes no sense, from the human perspective. God’s in charge. He understands it all. Ultimately, He will right every wrong. And, as one of the old hymns* says, “Farther along, we’ll know all about it. Farther along, we’ll understand why.”
In the meantime, let’s love and trust our God and gratefully receive the blessings He gives us here in this world and anticipate those in the life that awaits us. Once we are with Him in Heaven, all the “stuff” of this life will seem as nothing.
