{Today I am linked with Lisa Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. Five Minute Fridayā¦. here is how it works. One prompt. Five minutes. Write unedited. Link up with others. Sheer joy & fun too!}
Present.
Of course, the first thought to come to my mind is the one where a gift is wrapped in beautiful paper perhaps tied with ribbons & a big bow on top. It might be given to me for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, Mother’s Day or no specific reason at all. Those are always the best kind. But that is not what stayed in my mind. As I listened, I realized that…..
Present…….
Existing now. In this moment. At this very time.
Now that is present.
With those around me – family & friends – I want to be present. As they are talking to me, I do not want to be drifting in my mind to another place, another time. I want to be here. Now. I want to give them my full attention for they are worth it. I want to be able to take note of what they are sharing because it is important to them if they are expressing it to me.
But there is more to it.
I want to be present for me. Selfish perhaps but it is true. I want to be present at that moment of sharing because I do not want to miss the opportunity to be in relationship with them. I want the richness of their friendship, of the intimacy. The words spoken will link us together forever in this present moment. Bonds will be forged & strengthened, if I am present in that moment.
There truly is no other point in time like the present. And it is but a fleeting moment in time. Never to be recaptured. Never to be experienced. Isn’t that why James wrote, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fogāāitās here a little while, then itās gone.”ĆĀ ĆĀ ĆĀ ĆĀ (James 4:14 NLT). James knew life was precious, to be lived in the present.
So when I am there, I want to be fully present. For them. For me. Forever.
Perhaps that is why they say, “There is no time like the present.”
It is the only time we truly have.
Present.
Today I linked with Five Minute Friday and Fellowship Fridays and Friendship Friday and Essential Friday and Faith Filled Fridays and Bible Love Notes and Faithful Fridays .
I don’t think that’s selfish. It is truly selfless to live in true relationships with others. That is where the sweetness of fellowship grows. that is where we are meant to be.
we’re tracking together this Five Minute Friday, my friend! absolutely sisters, side by side!
Thanks for stopping by & I visited you back š That’s the joy of #FMF.
I love that, fully present!! I remember when my boys were little sometimes they would say, “Look at me!” I was there but I wasn’t there… š Such a good post!!
So true! Others know when we are “not there”. Thanks for sharing!
So very true.
Great post! I’m do glad you linked up with Faithful Fridays, and shared this. Blessings:)
Thank you for stopping by. Have a great Friday!
Lovely and True. Here and NOW. š shandra
http://shandraharris.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/five-minute-friday-present/
Tweet to: @shandra_lee
So glad you visited. I stopped by your post as well š
Hey,
Just visiting to say thanks for linking up with us at Faithful Fridays!
Blessings,
Julie
Dear Joanne
Just like I want to be in the present for my family to build relationships, I want to be in the present to build a relationship with God, there in the deep quiet of my heart.
Luv xx
Yes! Thanks for adding that š
This is a lovely post – I love your Five-Minute Friday posts, Joanne.
I am most challenged at the moment by how distracting technology can be and how it prevents us from being present – present to our loved ones, present to enjoy the moment, present to spend time with God…
Thanks for linking up at Essential Fridays. Blessings.
Mel –
You are so right. All one needs to do is notice what happens to us when the computer or our phones “bing” with a notification. Thank you for hosting the link up & visiting me. Have a blessed day!