Five Minute Friday-Sustain

This week’s FMF writing prompt is: SUSTAIN

SUSTAIN

Oké, oké. But that word sustain… it was actually a totally unknown word for me. I know quite a lot of English words, but sustain? No idea.

So I looked it up. First I found the Dutch word onderhouden, but immediately I pictured a man with a gereedschapskist (toolbox) coming to check the cv-ketel... oh that's a boiler, you know.  Not exactly inspiring for a Five Minute blog. Then I found the Dutch word in stand houden. But that sounds more like keeping an old tradition alive or protecting an old building.

Ondersteunen maybe? I didn’t know.

Funny how one little word can have so many layers. What does it mean exactly? This English word simply refuses to cooperate. And now I already wrote for five minutes, so I guess this little blog is finished.

-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-

Ten minutes later...

I found it in my English Bible: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee.” And in Dutch? It says onderhouden. Apparently sustain has about seventeen meanings and my brain understood exactly none of them. So I needed Psalm 55 to explain it to me personally.

Ssssst… this does not count for the five minute prompt.

Five Minute Friday – DECISION

Happy to join the Five Minute Friday community this week... 

The prompt is Decision.

Five minutes on the clock… let’s see where this goes.

This week it happened again.

I had to make a decision.

An invitation popped up on my phone.
A birthday.

And then… on the same day, in the same group…
another one.

Two in one week.

And I felt it immediately.
In my body.

A little knot in my stomach.
Okay, not that little.

Because my first thought was:
“I should just say yes.”

Of course.

That’s what I’ve always done.

But then came the second thought:
“Wait… I already know how this goes.”

If I say yes to both,
I will feel it. Not just that day,
but the next one… and probably the one after.

Apparently my body keeps better records than I do.

So there I was.
Phone in my hand.
Trying to be a good person.

And also trying to be a wise one.

Because those are not always the same thing.

I’ve learned something this past year.

I don’t do well with too much in one week.
One is good. Two is… ambitious.

Let’s call it that.

So I made a decision.

Not a big dramatic one.
Just a simple one.

One yes.
One no.

And the surprising part is this:

The one yes actually feels good.

Relaxed. Present. Real.

And the no?

Still a bit uncomfortable.
But also… honest.

And I’m starting to think
that’s not such a bad combination.

STOP.

Five Minute Friday - Suffer

Some days, it feels like I'm drowning in suffering. Other times, I can handle it better. But nights are the worst. I try not to dwell on it too much, but often it overwhelms me, especially at night, when everything is quiet and I'm alone with my thoughts. I find it so hard to keep my mind from wandering!

The Heartache of Loss

Losing a child is incredibly hard. Witnessing my sister go through it, I realize the depth of devastation it brings. It's as though a piece of your heart is torn away, and life loses its familiar rhythm. 

But...

A Different Kind of Loss

But... what if the loss extends beyond just one individual? What if it means losing the embrace of the next generation? Yes, my daughter has chosen to cut ties with us, and it's a pain that cuts deep. I miss her, I miss my grandchildren, and this is a piece of suffering that I silently carry with me.

Finding Solace in God

Yet, even amidst the darkness, there's a glimmer of solace. Sometimes, when sleep evades me,I reach for the lamp on my bedside table – let there be light – and open my Bible. Psalm 27 speaks to me:

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Embracing Divine Comfort

I continue reading until I reach the verse that says: 

"Though my father and my mother daughter abandoned me, the Lord gathers me up."

Tears flow freely as I absorb the words. Despite the immense loss, I find comfort in the assurance that God's love transcends human understanding. 

A Prayer for Guidance

After reading, I close my Bible, turn of the lamp, and whisper:

"Do not hide Your face from me; You have been my help. Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path."

Joining in for Five Minute Friday today.

FMF - Daily Escape with Diamond Gems

I shake the container of diamond gems back and forth to make them settle nicely for picking up with my pink pen. It's so satisfying to hear that sound when I give the container a little shake. I'm sitting at the large table in my living room, and daylight streams in through the side window, illuminating my robin painting perfectly. 

My little moment of respite

This is my little respite moment, and I dive into it more often than I check my phone... About seven times a day! Is that so?

🤫  Well, let's just say my phone gets jealous sometimes!

Everyone in the house knows how I love it; so I received many gifts, under the motto: help Aritha get through the winter. 

Chocolate brown "gems"
Yesterday, it was the turn of the lime green gems. Today, it's time for the brown stones, reflecting the shade of that special dark chocolate covering the 'Bossche Bol'.* I pick up a gem from the container with my pen and place it where it belongs, nestled in the robin's wing. And another gem, and another... tap, tap, tap. 

😊 Meanwhile, I feel like I can breathe more freely and think in a more creative way.

Thank you LORD
If I had a lot of energy, maybe I wouldn't do this, and I'd just keep running. But look at me sitting at the big table. It's all good. I'm thankful to God for diamond painting and wish I had discovered it earlier.

💎😌 I love these little moments of respite!

Joining in for Five Minute Friday today. 

* Bossche Bol (delicious)