Someday starts today

FMF: Someday starts today

14:36

I love how these prompt words make me think and teach me something both in Holy Spirit reflections, but also in then reading the reflections of others in the group.

Now is a good time to honour and thank Kate for facilitating this FMF group and to thank all those who participate and share in it.

Thank you all.

‘Someday’ – my first thought was a song and I began singing ‘Someday I’ll fly away…’ – I got distracted with someday and rainbow songs too, so wanted to check the lyrics, only to realise they ran, ‘One–day I’ll fly away…’

So I began to reflect on Someday/one–day – and whether there was any distinction between the two.

I’m still not sure that there is, except that one-day sounds vaguely more optimistic than ‘someday’.

I began to think about all of the one-day/someday statements I have made myself throughout my life – dreams and aspirations that I didn’t believe to be within reach and so were relegated to the future – to one-day I’ll travel to India; one-day I’ll write a book; one-day I’ll be able to do that thing… ,

or even to the conditional – someday, if I ever have the money, time, courage, opportunity etc.….

These one-days and someday s, I realised were usually aspirational, wishful, positive hopes and dreams.

In faith terms the one-day/someday lean back onto the promises of God throughout history and even to personal promises from God to me. Often these promises refer to future blessings –

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Living in a fallen world and dealing with our own sin and the sin and pain around us, very often the one-day looked forward to is a place of no suffering, no pain, no evil, no fear –

– of a paradise; of seeing not in a glass dimly, but seeing face-to-face…

– of knowing, even as I am fully known by my Heavenly Father.

But today I was reminded of John 17:2- 5

You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

And I had the revelation that one-day/someday is today!

We are born anew for a relationship with God – the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit.

This is eternal life.

Not only in a heavenly future, but in a heavenly now – for we are children of God, heirs with Christ, filled with the power and Spirit of God Himself.

Someday starts today!!

Alleluia.

14:50 – sorry.

Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is

I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.

To read other FMF posts on this subject click below

Join the Five Minute Friday link-up and read other posts here​

a spring meadow with mature tree arched by a rainbow

Some & Almost

FMF: Some

I was travelling last week and trying to complete the NaPoWriMo challenge for April, but when I saw last week’s FMF prompt-word – Almost, the same idea came to mind as came to me seeing the FMF prompt-word – Some.

And so I will attempt to combine them today.

15:21

‘There were some who doubted’.*

With us humans, we operate in some and almost.

We give some of our heart.

We almost believe, but there is a part of our hearts that is unbelieving.

We can say with that father who came to Jesus – ‘I believe, help me in my unbelief.*’

But God.

With God there is no almost, no some. God is All and completely and wholly for us.

God wants that ALL shall be saved, not just some.

Jesus healed ALL who came to Him. He didn’t turn any away who came to Him.

He doesn’t turn any away who come to Him now.

I am so grateful that Father God wants to save, forgive, heal and restore completely and Every and All who come to Him with sincere hearts.

I am not so generous, but I desire to be.

I love some, maybe even most, but I struggle with the all.

I give some, almost… but not all of my resources in love.

God gave All of Himself on the cross – not almost or some, but His whole self, completely, freely, for All of my sins, not just some, not just the ‘more forgivable’ sins, but for all.

He gave His ALL.

Completely.

It is finished.

His whole body was broken, that ALL of mine, and your, brokenness of body, mind, heart and spirit might be made completely whole.

He deserves my All.

• Matthew 28:17
• 2: Mark 9:24

Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is SOME.

I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.

To read other FMF posts on this subject click below:

Join the link-up and read other posts here​

Day 19 – A lonely haunt

NaPoWriMo prompt: What are you haunted by, or what haunts you? Write a poem responding to this question. Then change the word haunt to hunt.

I’m not haunted by anything, except possibly the possibility of regret. I would hate to find myself regretting something I’d done or not done and now can never put right.

Maybe this is why Christ’s forgiveness, and mandate of such, is so all-important, central to me?

FMF prompt word: LONELY.

I won’t do another FMF, but will write a Haiku to link haunt and lonely.

Haiku 1

I think the only

thing that could ever haunt me –

if you were lonely.

Haiku 2

Many are my fears

but the one that would haunt me –

my lack of courage.

Haiku 3 – inspired by Martin Niemöller’s famous and important words

I will speak speak for you

when you face persecution.

Will you speak for me?

Haiku 4

To not hear the words

‘Well done good, faithful servant’ –

on reaching heaven.

Haiku 5

Haunted or hunted,

they would never come for me.

I’ve nothing they want!

Haiku 6

To sum this all up

about what would haunt me most –

t’is to have regret.

image of huddled boy, lonely and afraid

NB: To see other responses to the FMF prompt, LONELY, see below

Read Prasanta’s post and join the link-up here​

Complicated – Day 6 NaPoWriMo

FMF: Complicated – Day 6 NaPoWriMo

FMF prompt word is complicate, so I’m going to really confuse myself and hopefully not confuse you, as I complicate the task of writing a FMF post, whilst combining the word complicate, with the NaPoWriMo’s optional prompt below.

‘Today’s we’d like to challenge you to write a poem rooted in “weird wisdom,” by which we mean something objectively odd that someone told you once, and that has stuck with you ever since.’

I’m already suitably confused explaining this and the added complication has tied me in knots, but I do have an idea – of something I always heard as a child and then continued to tell my own children.

It is the consequence of that ‘weird wisdom’ , which I will attempt to put into some kind of rhyme for the NaPoWriMo challenge.

Navigating truth and lies

is complicated from the start;

When we come into this world,

We only really know our heart.

Parents, siblings, teachers,

they all give of their best,

to guide and give us wisdom,

but sometimes it’s a mess!

One day in school I saw my son,

he wasn’t in his room; so

I paused to ask him what was wrong

and understood quite soon.

His nose he hid behind one hand,

his tum behind the other –

‘My tummy hurts’ he softly lied

But I knew, cos I’m his mother.

You see, already he had learned

To play me at my game –

I’d lied: ‘Your nose will grow!’

And so he hid his shame.

My time is up and I don’t have the energy to work on it further.

This is a true story that taught me to be careful of the lies and stories I pass on to my children.

We can laugh about it, but I realised that adults often lie to children and yet expect them to learn to tell the truth!

That time already?

FMF: Already.

13:43

My eldest son is already turning 30 this year! How did that happen?

My grandson is already 7 years old!

And my youngest grand-daughter is already turning 5, later this month!

It is hard for me to believe and to grasp sometimes.

Easter has already been (the lamb and the chocolate is already eaten) and already we are in the time of reflecting on the Risen Lord.

Yet now, on Tuesday, Easter Sunday teaching at church seems like weeks ago!

I do find that time takes on a funny shape like this, that I often don’t understand –

Significant milestones creep up and surprise me – hardly believing that the time has passed by and that event is already here.

Other times are more tricky – some things we await seemingly forever and wonder if we will ever witness the event. Some days even events of this morning seem like days ago. Time and shape shifting in my imagination, in my perspective.

I wonder if God, for Whom a thousand years is as a day, if for God, Who is outside and beyond all time, if for Him, time is but a perfect shape and there is no experience of the ‘already’ that bewilders me?

When the ordained end of the world comes, will God think, ‘Gosh, already? We are not ready!’ ?

And there – my 5 minutes are already over and I’ve hardly written any of the thoughts that had flooded my mind!

I’m sure I’m not the only one bewildered and discombobulated by the unexpected experience of the passing of time?

I wonder why it is?

Maybe it is just a matter of perspective?

Is it to do with where our focus is?

Is it age?

What do you think?

Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is ALREADY.

I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.

To read other FMF posts on this subject click below

Join the link-up and read other posts here​

The Blame Game

I was thinking of the blame game!

It is as old as Adam and Eve themselves. We might even say it is part of human nature.

Why did you do it Adam? Oh, it was that woman’s fault – the woman You gave me – she made me do it.

Eve, why did you do it? It was the serpent – he said you were lying to me.

Dawn, who left the door open? I don’t know, it wasn’t me (it must have been someone else).

Man, where is your wife? Oh, I kicked her out. She was cheating on me – after everything I did for her. She couldn’t have wanted a better husband! But she’s done it now. It’s over!

My boy is struggling at school – the schools have failed him. They don’t help him or understand him. They are always complaining to me, cos they don’t now how to control the children!

The politicians? Shower of bandits!

We hear it all the time, in every area of life.

We blame partners, parents, children, schools, governments, even GOD.

I hear it coming from my own lips.

The problem is always… Them!

Of course that lets me off the hook, as I can do nothing about them.

If I blame you, I can be the victim, and not take any responsibility for my own actions.

If it is your fault, I can even justify my own bad behaviour by a) shifting the focus onto your bad behaviour, and b) excuse my behaviour by the stress you cause me. (If you had to put up with this, you would behave the same)

Do we ever hear, or say – My wife? I realise now that I’ve driven her away. I didn’t ever pay her any attention except to criticise her. I burdened her with chores and problems and I only ever complained. I am self-centred and have never thought about her needs. I can’t believe she put up with me all these years.

Have you heard anyone say that?

Me neither.

No, we judge others and blame them. We see the speck in their eyes, despite the plank in our own!

(Some people do some very bad things. I am not saying that this is okay. Please don’t think I am saying that it is your fault, or that we should take the blame for everything ourselves. If you have been wounded, I am not saying that it was your fault, nor that you ever deserved bad treatment from anybody. I am saying that we are told not to judge anyone in bitterness – even ourselves! When we judge in bitterness, we are inviting bitter consequences into our lives.)

One of the best lessons I am learning recently is the power of repentance – of seeing where I have judged them and repenting of my judgments; of forgiving them and blessing them.

image of 2 cartoon pets, both looking guilty and pointing the finger at the other.

Lord, let me see others as You see them.

Tonight we remember Jesus washing His disciples feet. Showing complete humility as an example of how we are to serve. Whose feet will I wash?

We remember Him breaking the bread and sharing the cup – as His body would soon be broken and His precious blood poured out for us – to forgive us our sins and bring us into relationship with Father GOD. What am I willing to sacrifice quietly?

We remember Him in the Garden of Gethsemane – in another garden where He reverses Adam’s curse, by choosing God’s way, rather than His own will. Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done. How often do I insist on it being done my way?

As they crucified Him, He didn’t defend His innocence and blame the centurions, He cried, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’

Jesus went to the cross that my relationship with GOD could be restored. But He didn’t blame me for His agony.

He sacrificed His life to give me life, but He doesn’t guilt trip me when I mess up.

Jesus doesn’t tell me it was all my fault and make me pay.

No, He paid for me.

Let me own my own sin and blaming and excuses, and lay it all at the cross – let me exchange it for the abundant life of freedom and truth that His sacrifice and His resurrection have empowered.

Jesus is alive. Hallelujah.

Happy Easter to all of my wonderful blogging friends and readers.

I really appreciate you all for reading and commenting and for sharing your own writing with us too.

Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is BLAME.

I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.

To read other FMF posts on this subject click BELOW

Join the link-up and read other posts here​

What’s the hurry?

image of the mad hatter ‘I’m late, I’m late…’

16:00

Today I came home and into my office and suddenly had a brief moment of panic –

‘Argh! I’ve not done my FMF post AGAIN!’

Why is it so often the following Thursday before I write the Five Minute FRIDAY post?

I referred back to Kate’s email – prompt word ‘Hurry’! Lol.

‘What’s the hurry?’ came to mind – the thing I say often to myself when I allow little things like that to stress me unnecessarily.

Does it matter to anybody that I write this a post for this group? No.

Does it matter to me? Yes.

Why?

When I set myself a task, I tend to commit myself to it. I hate then to be late, or unprepared – or worse, to cancel or not deliver. It might not matter to anybody else, but if I have told myself I will do something, I do it.

So I can often find myself hurrying to do what I said I would do.

Not late, just rushing. Hurried.

I wear many hats and pursue many interests, so I have many commitments.

Today, despite being awake and up already for 80 minutes, I was somehow pedaling like fury up to the church where I help run a mums and toddlers’ group. I found myself hurrying to set up the room and urn, in time for the early birds.

Last night I was last minute emailing a card design to be printed for the group, so had to hurry this morning to write greetings in all of the cards.

During the group time, I could relax and be present with the adults and children…

Then at the end, I hurried to clear away and to set up for the group that uses the hall after us and then hurried to an appointment to meet a friend. I should have arranged the meeting for half an hour later really – then it would not have been a rush.

I was annoyed with myself for being 4 minutes late! She had been and gone again, as I was late, but did come back and we relaxed for a few hours together.

I certainly do know how to relax, but always find myself hurrying to be on time for schedules.

I don’t quite know what it is. If I’m traveling and relying on buses and trains, I will allow so much time, that I take a book for when I arrive even an hour early, but when it is me relying on feet or bicycle, I am always rushing at the last minute.

I’m sure there is a root of something in my past that trips me up and keeps me in that uncomfortable practice!

I think it is time that I challenge this and ask Holy Spirit to help me break this stronghold and learn to manage that aspect of time so I can be present and at ease.

Stop

It does fascinate me that as humans we can become so tangled up in relatively trivial issues – but these things can bind us and keep us stuck.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

One last thing about the FMF posts is that I will not read other posts on the prompt until I have written and published mine – otherwise, their ideas might influence what I think about. That means that I am always reading reading everyone else’s posts during the new week!

For you readers of mine who will click on the link below, bear in mind that we are coming nearly late to this very important mad-hatters party date!

Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is HURRY.

I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.

To read other FMF posts on this subject click below.

Join the link-up and read other posts here​

I dedicate this to you.

I love the following book dedication:

‘My Dear Lucy,

I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result, you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say but I shall still be,

your affectionate Godfather,
C. S. Lewis’

dedication to Lucy, inscribed into The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’, by C. S. Lewis.

This dedication in the opening pages of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ has struck me since the first time I read the Narnia tales, in my 20s. I realised the truth in those words of how, in our adolescence and teenage years, we think ourselves ‘too old for fairy tales’, until we become mature enough then to appreciate them afresh. In my 20s I was ‘old enough to start reading fairy tales again’ and became an avid collector of beautiful children’s picture books, which I loved, and still love to read aloud to eager children!!

C. S. Lewis dedicated this book to his dear God-daughter, Lucy Barfield, the daughter of his dear friend Owen Barfield, who is said to have been instrumental in Lewis’s ‘reluctant conversion’ to Christianity.

I always look at the dedications in books. I am one of those who read a book cover to cover, not wanting to miss anything that might shed light on or enhance my experience of the book.

My own published book, ‘Lost Down Memory Lane – Caring For Alzheimer’s’ I dedicated to carers, for whom the book was largely written. My inspiration and guide was God, first and foremost, and naturally, my mother, who was the one with Alzheimer’s and for whom I underwent this journey. They were thanked and acknowledged in the ‘Acknowledgments’. My dedication was not nearly as grand and memorable as that of C. S. Lewis.

The dedication inscription simply reads:

‘You carers are the heroes. I dedicate this book to you.’

If you have published, painted, created something, have you dedicated it? If so, to whom and why?

Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is DEDICATE.

I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.

JOIN THE LINK-UP AND READ OTHER POSTS HERE​

Suffer The Little Children

17:35

The word ‘suffer’ brought the phrase ‘suffer the children to come unto me’ to my mind.

I wasn’t sure if it was a misquote, as it sounded archaic, like the King James versions that I haven’t read for many years, so it started me to look and wonder what the phrase actually meant.

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Matthew 19:14 (KJV)

A cartoon image of this scene in Matthew 19:14

The modern translations, rather than using the word ‘suffer’, say:

He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. ‘ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”

So why would children have to be ‘suffered’?

As I thought about, I actually know several people, who are not particularly fond of children and who therefore, on occasions when young children are present, they have to tolerate, or suffer them.

The archaic use of the word – meaning to tolerate, endure, or put up with – possibly describes many adults around the presence of children.

How many of us have seen people tutting and muttering because a certain toddler is having a tantrum in the middle of a church service, or is screaming havoc on a busy bus?

Personally I mostly love the presence of children.

I was a teacher of young infants for over 15 years and I still run a ‘mums and toddlers’ group each week. I love interacting with and watching the little ones. And if I begin to talk about my darling grandchildren….

But there are some occasions when I too have had to tolerate the presence of certain children, especially in environments or circumstances that are not particularly child-friendly. Children demand a level of patience and understanding that I do not always want to give.

It seems that Jesus’ disciples also didn’t want Jesus to be ‘bothered ‘ by the little ones interrupting His important teaching and preaching.

Jesus had important things to do. The people wanted healing, they wanted to hear the Good News. The disciples wanted to make Jesus’ ministry more comfortable and they didn’t want Him to be bothered by mere children.

Children were not as important as the religious men.

But Jesus turned many things upside down.

He showed us that man’s ways are not like God’s ways. He showed us that God looks at the heart.

Man is interested in power, wealth, status, prestige.

Jesus showed special interest in those that society esteemed less favourably – the women, the poor, the children, the blind, lame and lowly – the beggars, the lepers, the misfits and cast offs in society; the sinners, prostitutes, tax-collectors; even the enemy: the Roman centurions, the pagans and gentiles.

Jesus showed us that God loves every person, whoever they are.

Jesus welcomed, accepted , served and loved those we consider unlovely. He not only tolerated, but He embraced and blessed them and held them up as an example of qualities to emulate.

He not only ‘suffered’ them, He welcomed them, chose them, enjoyed them and loved them.

This gives me great hope.

When I am unlovely and hard to put up with, He doesn’t stop loving me either.

But it also gives me a very important mandate – because Jesus asked me to love others as He has loved me.

That love has to begin with myself. Jesus loves me, so I have to love me and with His love I can love others.

Who are they that I feel I have to tolerate and suffer?

Can you ask yourself that question?

Thank God that in His strength, in His love, and in His grace, I CAN tolerate, accept, serve and love the unlovely that He graciously sends my way.

Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is SUFFER

I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.

To read other FMF posts on this subject , see below.

HERE is the link to the link-up!​

Take-a-Break

FMF: RESPITE

17:20

The word respite took me straight to a specific time and place in my life – that of the blessing of occasional respite care for my mother.

Let me explain:

Mammy had early-onset Alzheimers. She received her diagnosis in her early 50s and was already just turned 60 when we moved her in to live with us.

It was a momentous undertaking for all of us – for mum to leave her beloved Orkney Island home; for my husband and children to have this needy stranger suddenly living with them; and for me, to become a full-time carer for a mother that I felt had rejected me.

It was a sacrifice and a privilege that I am grateful to have accepted.

However, as anyone who has been a carer knows, one needs to be super-careful not to overdo it!!! When one is looking after another 24/7, one tends to forget to look after oneself.

I was caring for my mother, but still had to attend to my husband and 2 young teenagers! There was little energy enough for them, so self-care was neglected.

This is when I discovered the benefits of respite care.

Respite care means taking a break from caring, while the person you care for is looked after by someone else. It lets you take time out to look after yourself and helps stop you becoming exhausted and run down.

The dictionary describes it as RESPITE: ‘a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant’. But I describe those breaks from caring as necessary breathing spaces for sanity to resume, for me to see my children and myself uninterrupted; time to go away for a few days together and do the sorts of things we used to take for granted, like camping, hill-walking, or meals out, without constant risk-assessment and stress.

Of course the word comes from ‘respire’, which means ‘to breathe’. It also has an archaic meaning which is equally relevant here – ‘to recover hope, courage, or strength after a time of difficulty’.

Jesus invited me to take frequent respite with Him.

He invited me to come to Him, casting off my cares and leaving them in His care; resting in His loving embrace; resting in His Peace. He knows that when I do this I too will recover hope, courage and strength in my daily experiences and battles.

He invites all of His children to come to Him and receive His peace and that turbo-charge that we often so desperately need!

Respite care at that time of being a full-time carer, was a real God-send for me. For Mammy it was mixed; sometimes she would be delighted to meet people and equally delighted simply to see us come to fetch her home again, whence she immediately forgot where she had been; at other times she would spend the time away feeling abandoned and grumpy.

But for my sanity and ability to care – and therefore ultimately for Mammy’s well-being too, we used respite care whenever we could afford to just take a break by ourselves.

We would resume caring refreshed and appreciative of Mammy and of each other.

To read a little more on our dementia journey and the book we published, read in https://dawnfanshawe.wordpress.com/books-2/

If you would like a copy of the book, message me and I’ll give you options of how best to purchase it, according to where you live.

Image of front cover of Lost Down Memory Lane – painting by Michael Tolleson Robles