Present (Five Minute Friday)

Welcome to another edition of Five Minute Friday.  Here's the short version of how it works:   (for full details, and other fun ways to play along - like the #FMFParty on Thursday nights - read over here)

1. Write for 5 minutes flat - no editing, no overthinking, no backtracking.  [this means typos are fair game!]
2. Link back at Lisa-Jo's and invite others to join in
3. Go visit the post of the lovely person who linked before you, and leave a little encouragement. This is the must-do rule. It's the heart of our FMF community.  And the most fun part of the whole experience.

And now, here's my thoughts on

PRESENT.

Thank you, English. This is one of those words - did she intend present (as in past, present, future), or present (bringing something forth) or present (gift)? And that's the beauty of FMF - it can be anything I want with the word. I try never to read ahead, so my thoughts don't get comingled with what I read elsewhere.

So today, present (past-present-future) is the winner. It's been where my heart has been. I'm on vacation with my family, enjoying the present. Not dwelling on all the things past - the hard days, the tough times, the drama. Not wrorrying about what comes next. There's a lot of big decisions coming down the road, and the Lord is really working on my heart - reminding me "Jen, I'VE GOT THIS." So instead, I just need to do the next thing. The next right thing, and then the thing after that will present itself for me to do. Living a little more in the moment. Taking the time to play, relax, just be here with what I've got now.

Knowing - trusting - remembering that the future will be the present soon enough, and that the path I should follow through that will bring it's start right into my present just at the right time when I need it. Not a moment too soon, but not a moment too late.

Which means for today, I can give thanks - and then head off to the beach for a little sand castle building.

Stop.