It’s been a while since I last participated in Lisa Jo’s Five Minute Friday – where we just write to write. Unedited. For five minutes only.
It can sometimes be a scary free association but then, that’s sort of the point.
So . . . here goes . . . GO:
DIVE . . .
Right into the unexpected, the deep end. Feet first.
Fear might sneak in and threaten try to shake your confidence. It will tell you you probably shouldn’t, or there’s someone better for the job, and who do you think you are anyway?
Don’t listen. He’s sneaky like that and when we give him the time of day, he makes us shrink further and further from those refreshing waters that we wouldn’t even know could be refreshing unless we kiss him good-bye.
Dive into the new and embrace change. There’s just so much that we can’t control anyway. Some of my fiercest battles have been a result from resisting change and when I finally embraced it, I discovered how good it could really be. His plan is always good.
Even when it hurts.
My youngest child is a bit of a picky eater. OK, so he’s a lot of a picky eater.
His imposed-by-me resolution for the new year is to try new foods. He will eat what’s served him because I’m not running a restaurant here, you know. (I add “sweetheart” on the end of this when I say it to him because it always sounds so much nicer when I add “sweetheart.” Pick up your room or there will be a consequence, sweetheart.)
The other night he tried a taco bowl for the first time. He loved it.
We’ve had taco bowls for years. All this time, he had been missing out on their goodness.
What goodness do you miss if you don’t just dive-in?
What are you afraid of?
Dream for a minute. Then kick fear in the teeth.
And dive in.
STOP.
Want to read more about diving today? Visit Lisa Jo and the bevy of lovely writers writing on the same . . .
“What goodness do you miss if you don’t just dive-in?” . . . such a true thought, and reminds me that our great God is such a good Dad who knows life and how to live it and desires us to enjoy eternal life in knowing Him not just in heaven, but on earth! Who knows what opportunities may be life situations through which He wants to bless us and grow us if we’d only take them. May we have the courage to dive in!
So nice to connect with you through 5 Minute Friday! I, too, am fighting the fear to just dive in. I love that you mentioned the doubt, “who do you think you are, anyway?” That kind of self-doubt is so debilitating for me, but I’m facing it this year.
Yes! “All this time, he had been missing out on their goodness.” Looks like we’re on the same wave length today, Natalie :) Thanks for challenging me!
Hey Natalie-
Thanks for the challenge… I have been “diving in” to HIS redemption for me since the new year! To just fall in love with HIS LOVE for me. HIS word is encouraging me on all of this, and my word of REDEMPTION keeps popping up in all I read! So I know HE is speaking to me loud and clear. If you just “dive in” the waters are refreshing and clear!
Hi Natalie,
I’m pretty sure I can’t even begin to count the ‘goodness I’ve been missing out on’. Fear has been my #1 go to for so many years. This year I hope to change that thinking! Thank-you for your post! I want to remember to dive in! Great to connect with you through FMF!
~Sarah @ Sundry&Specific
http://sudryandspecific.wordpress.com/
Same here! How much good is being missed out on by my picky 4 year old – but also by me every day because I’m afraid to “taste and see”.
Diving into change – very scary, but the rewards are often super savory – like taco bowls! I have a picky 44 year old, 17 year, 14 year old and 4 year old. It is not easy, but I have gotten all of them to expand their palates at one time or another. The trick is to keep encouraging them and having boundaries (not a restaurant, sweetheart – I love that!).
It took you five minutes to write THAT??? Just kidding!! :) you know I’m totally joking, such a great example of this concept for those of us with small kiddos. Love you and your servants heart so much Nat!!
My youngest, now 23 (yikes) and 6’5″ lived for over a year on hot dogs, nachos, and pizza without sauce. He has just recently developed more willingness to venture into uncharted nutritional territory. We can order pizza with sauce now too! =)
What a great perspective! All the things we’ve missed because we are afraid to dive in. Ah, I love it. Thanks for sharing.