Loud when we need trees

By Jeanne Takenaka

I haven’t participated in FMF for a long, LONG time. But something about this word resonated, so here I am. 

Our Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—LOUD. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. We write for five minutes on a given word. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out the Five Minute Friday website. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!

LOUD

Who knew LOUD could be a feeling?

As I look back on this week . . . 

We’re navigating a family emergency. 

The boys started school in-person. 

There’s so much uncertainty . . . I feel like life is blaring all around me. Pulsing into me with the beating of its rhythm.

I’m in a place of overwhelm. 

God’s still quiet voice is trying to find purchase in my heart. My thoughts.

I’m learning like never before, in this crazy year called 2020, the necessity of quiet places. 

Quiet places in my schedule. 

Grace for those times when I need to withdraw from the loudness of everything in order to still my soul.

To incline my ear to hear my Father’s voice.

Loud when we need flowers

There’s grace for those times when the loud of the days, when the booming of uncertainties seem to drown out everything else.

When I withdraw to a quiet place with the Lord, 

When I seek Him in prayer and in His word,

When I take a walk and listen to a book instead of doing something that feels like an obligation,

That’s when I can overcome the loud.

I guess sometimes we need to offer ourselves the grace to take care of us so we can handle all the urgency this life pushes on us.

In this loud season I’m living in, I’m choosing to do things that quiet my soul so I can hear my Father’s words for me.

His words whisper

His words whisper life to an overwhelmed spirit. His words breathe grace into a heavy heart. His words offer hope when everything this life reveals feels like too much.

What about you? What is helping you find quiet in the loud places of life right now? How do you show yourself grace in overwhelming seasons?

I’m linking up with Five Minute Friday

Click to Tweet: I’m learning like never before, in this crazy year called 2020, the necessity of quiet places

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