Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. The prompt this week is ā¦ Present.
It’s that time of year where we all are thinking of presents. The one where a gift is wrapped in beautiful paper perhaps tied with ribbons and a big bow on top.
But then the word stirred more.
Present –
Existing now. In this moment. At this very time.
I want to be present with those around me āā my family and friends āā I want to be present. As they are talking to me, I don’t want my mind to be drifting 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. I want to be present.
But there is more to it.
I want to be present for me. Selfish perhaps, but it is true. I want to be present in 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 and 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. Isnāt 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.āĀ (James 4:14 NLT)
James knew life was precious, and was 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, āThere is no time like the present.āĀ
It is the only time we truly have.
Present.
Today I am joining ā¦
It is the only time we truly have…NOW.
We definitely need to live in the moment – not in a reckless kind of way, but just making the most of the opportunity in front of us.
Amie, FMF #13
He fills each day with opportunity and only as we live with our eyes open in the moment will we see it. Each day filled with possibility!
This moment will not come again,
when past, it’s gone for good,
and even though it’s wrapped in pain,
I will control the mood
and look unto the brighter part,
transcendence of my coming end
that places in my ravaged heart
a bouquet from a Friend
who’s known me since the dawn of time,
who understands my fears,
who tells me it is not a crime
to live the Now in tears,
for (“My boy, I thought you knew?”)
there was a time when He wept, too.
Andrew, you reminded me of the verse that says He stores each of our tears in a bottle. Every tear is precious to Him.
Joanne, beautifully expressed! I don’t think it’s selfish at all to want to be present for yourself! In the present is where we find God, and where He most speaks to us! Thank you for the reminder of the richness of one word, “present”!
I so appreciated your thoughts!
Thank you Joanne. As the lyrics to Jeremy Camp say “keep me in the moment, I don’t want to miss what you have for me. Blessings.
Paula, the song is playing for the second time even as I am typing in this moment š Thank you for reminding me to listen to it again! So good!
Being present for ourselves is a beautiful gift we can accept for ourselves. It doesn’t sound selfish at all. As I finish up my year of “Linger” part of that has been to linger in the present, which is where I am. š Thanks for sharing your insight, Joanne!
Lisa, I love how the two words crossed for it is only as we linger that we will glean from the present. Grateful you shared!