Being Confident of This

Grace for the work-in-progress woman

Five Minute Friday: View

on May 24, 2013

Today I’m trying something new!  Another blogger has challenged us to participate in Five Minute Fridays – we’ll spend only 5 minutes writing on a word prompt that she gives us.  No editing, no grammar checking, no revising.  Just creativity. So, here goes!

 

View

 

I once lived in a land with breath-taking views.  Papua New Guinea, with bright tropical foliage filling the valleys, and the valleys ringed by tall mountains with a beauty of their own.  Our tribal home sat perched on the side of one of these mountains, up on stilts with our hammocks hanging beneath.

 

PNG house

 

I loved to sit in my hammock and look out at the blue sky that seemed so much brighter at that elevation and across to the mountain range on the other side of the valley below.  Some mornings, thick, white clouds filled the valley as if a blanket of white cotton was laid out for us.  So much beauty from the hand of our Creator!

hammocks under png house

 

Today the views that grace my landscape are not quite so spectacular.  Our small town has its own form of quaint beauty, and the surrounding corn and soybean fields have theirs.  Still, I miss New Guinea and the way in which the physical beauty of our mountain home brought me closer to my Creator.  It was as if His presence was always evidenced before me, less easy to ignore.

 

But my Creator is so quick to remind me that my view has so much to do with perspective.  I may no longer be surrounded by majestic mountains, wild-growing poinsettia trees, and grass-topped huts scattered among the dense green bush, but I’m surrounded by beautiful people.  The man in my life who is quick to help anyone in need.  The four-year-old twins who frolic together in the backyard.  The seven-year-old with the impish grin on his face, no doubt planning some new mischief.  The thirteen year old with his gentle smile and willing spirit.

 

me and kids

 

Yes, my view is good.

Jen 🙂

 


15 responses to “Five Minute Friday: View

  1. hisfirefly says:

    Yes! When we look with His eyes our hearts say “yes!”

  2. shortybear says:

    Awesome view, bless you.

  3. Rachel says:

    What a beautiful view. I LOVE how you each had your own hammock 🙂 And yes, perspective is so important, thanks for the reminder. (Visiting from FMF)

  4. kbaesen says:

    Just visiting from FMF! Loved your view then and your view now!! 🙂 I have had many views of living in different places and it’s so cool how God shows Himself in each one. Loved your post!

  5. Haven’t lookekd at those pictures in a long time, it was the most beautiful place and I often miss it, but I love all that God has given us and has shown us here at home too. Perspective is everyrhing!

  6. joy says:

    Thanks for dropping by in my other blog: willyouhearfromme.blogspot.com.
    By the way, I m so grateful that you shared this post. A timely reminder for everyone. It is a battle everyday, whom we will obey. God, the media, family or ourselves. May God always guides us and reveal the truth.
    You have a lovely family:) awesome sharing:)

  7. I love reading about your Five-minute Friday. I love those posts. A really close friend grew up in New Guinea 🙂 It is beautiful!! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your post over at WholeHearted Home.

    • Thank you! Five-minute Friday is something another blogger challenges us to do – write for 5 minutes on a word she gives us, without editing (http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/)! It’s a challenge for me as I like things to be “just so” before posting, but I think it gives me freedom to be a little more creative than I typically am, too. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
      Jen 🙂

  8. […] Growing up an MK (read missionary kid) taught me many life lessons.  I’ve seen what it is to truly be in need.  I know in many areas of the world, children often go hungry and families sleep on the bare dirt floors of a thatched jungle hut.  I’ve witnessed firsthand the difference between needs (for survival) and wants (for pleasure).  I’ve been content with very little in the way of material blessings.  I’ve also seen our Father God provide for our family in some amazing ways – money for shoes sent from another state, postmarked before we even prayed for it! […]

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