Today I’m trying something new. I’m participating in Five Minute Friday, a writing community that freewrites for five minutes on a prompt. No editing. (I mostly followed the rules.) Today’s prompt: Invite.
Today I’m inviting myself to be wrong. To be messy. To accept grace. To try and fail and learn and get back up again.
Today we’re going out of town for a wedding. We’re supposed to leave in two hours. I’m still in my pjs and desperately need a shower. Packing? *cue laughtrack* And my husband is scheduled to arrive home any minute.
So, knowing it’s going to be a messy next two hours – especially after only three hours sleep tossing and turning – I’m inviting myself to just try, even if I get it wrong. A sign hangs above my towel rack in the bathroom: Give Up on Giving Up. Is that you, too? Things go wrong, I’m done. Throw in the towel (couldn’t resist). But that’s bad practice.
I got sidetracked reading Isaiah 55 this morning. (The word “invitation” caught my attention.) It’s a beautiful chapter from God inviting the thirsty to drink for free from the living water. Today I’m not taking ladylike sips, I’m gulping. Guzzling. And quite possibly spilling all over. When you’re desperate, you’ll get it – that’s what a Sunday school teacher once said, referring to grace.
You may not be packing to schlep your family to an out-of-town wedding today, but I’m sure you’re up to something. Are you feeling your need for grace like I am? My invitation to myself can be yours too.
Invite yourself to get it wrong, but whatever you do, don’t give up.
Love, love, LOVE this, Pearl! I’m right there (can’t sleep tonight either), and right in the messy middle of feeling like I’m getting it all wrong. But I love the freedom in this message. I also love your illustration and the mental picture of guzzling that living water so fast it’s spilling down the face! Like drinking from a hose, hydrant…or maybe just a glass, because you know, I have a drinking problem and am really talented at dribbling beverages down my face and shirt. 😉
Thanks for this!
Melissa, you made me laugh. Grace is not my middle name, either. My mom claims I was the kid who could trip standing in the middle of an empty room. LOL I’m grateful this encouraged you, sister. I’m sure you’re getting a lot more right than you think. I think Jesus would love to hold you, let you spill your heart to Him, and afterward dry your tears and let you know in no uncertain terms that He’s not mad at you, not irritated with you, and He delights in you. I listened to a really good podcast by Ray Galea and he said God’s children can’t make God mad – otherwise what’s the cross all about? I cried tears of relief. That is a game changer. And it really does allow us permission to get it wrong – better to try and make a few mistakes along the way than live paralyzed by fear, right? Hugs, sweet sister!
“When you’re desperate, you’ll get it – that’s what a Sunday school teacher once said, referring to grace.” Wow, that’s quite a line 🙂 Welcome to Five Minute Friday! It’s been a while since I’ve participated, but it’s a great community, and a wonderful exercise in both writing and in courage–posting something without much editing. Great work!
Thanks for the welcome, Emily! I keep meeting more and more writers from FMF. ? But you have your book releasing soon!!! I imagine you’re kept busy with its launch.
Exactly the inspirational take that I needed today. So often, I need grace. Recently read an article that reinforces your message. It stated that “grit” is what makes for success, not constant success, but seeing the task through rather than giving up. I often need to reminder to look up to God. Enjoy the out of town wedding!
Cathy, so glad you were encouraged. I appreciate your thoughts. We’ll remind each other to look up sometimes. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!