Encouragement

It's FRIDAY! and time to write. Stop, clear your mind, and then empty your heart onto the page.

Here's how it works:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat - no editing, backtracking, overthinking.
2. Link up over here and invite others to join.
3. And then, the most important part -- visit the brave writer who linked before you. and give them some encouragement. That's the unbreakable rule, the fun, the heart of this community.

And now, for my 5 minutes on

Encouragement

Encouragement comes in all shapes. Sizes. Faces. Sometimes it's the mama in the grocery store who sees you with all the kids and the crazy hair, and maybe still even in your PJ pants because one of the kids is sick, but you MUST get out because otherwise you will all starve. Sometimes it is the stranger who waves you through at the busy intersection.
Sometimes it is your mom who calls just to tell you hi. Or the friend who texts you to meet for coffee, even in the busy, because you've been on her heart.
Sometimes it's even your kids. Who stop and say, mom - that was so nice. Or mom, thanks for dinner. Or can I have another hug, because you are the best hugger, mom.  or ... thanks for the angry bird bandaid because that made my owie feel all better.

However it comes, in whatever moment it hits, encouragement is what gets you through the toughest times. The times when you think you can't go one more inch. Not one more second without it all falling apart.

And it's also what lifts you even higher when you are soaring with great news. It's the coming alongside, dividing the grief, the sorrow, the pain, the tough days. The days when you want to pull your hair out for all the ridiculous things you've heard. And encouragement doubles the joy, the delight, the love, the laughter.

And right here, in this Five Minute Friday commuinity, we find it, and share it, by the bucketful.

Stop.