Hi There-
I’m doing this 5 minute writing challenge again..and late. Again. Same old song and dance. I used to beat myself up about it, but this is my real life, this is what happens on a Friday night; I post late. I’m giving myself grace and yet also a pat on a back for doing it.
Don’t know if you can tell, but trying to give myself (and others) grace and mercy. It’s easier to give others, but myself? It feels like I’m letting myself cheat at poker, rob a bank. It feels like guilt, there is so little grace that I’m used to giving myself. But I’m trying.
So, moving on-
So, a reminder in case you’ve missed it, this is the Friday Five Minute writing challenge, just in case, you know, you want to play sometime too-
This is a weekly writing “game” from my bloggy friend Lisa-Jo Baker, who blogs (and writes heart-breakingly, beautiful words and stories) at http://lisajobaker.com/
So, here’s the challenge, should you accept it: you write for 5 minutes with freedom like you have no fear or shame. And then you have to be brave (or pretend to be) and link up to her blog. Encouraging the writer who links up before you is part of the deal, too. This last rule is crucial, as we all need to encourage others. Why encourage another writer? Because at one point or another in our lives, we all need encouraging too.
Each week is a new word, a new thought starter, and you have 5 minutes to write….and are you ready? go-
Wonder
Wonder: Christmas. Christ. Childlike innocence. All of these words define the word wonder.
Wonder however, is what I’ve been thinking lately when I’ve been out running errands and I’ll tell you honestly: it isn’t good Christian thoughts that I’ve wondered. It’s more along the lines of what are earth are these people thinking? sort of wonder, wondering what has got into them and us and me this season as if our wrapped gifts, the type with ribbons and paper, are the best things we can give each other.
Wonder is not a Kindle Fire on a crazy sale at a big box store.
Wonder is not tens of thousands of gifts wrapped nicely, perfectly.
Wonder comes in small doses these days as an adult; it doesn’t hold as much of that frozen time hold that it did when I was a child which is to be expected. I have bills, a mortgage, real-life problems and other things that zap wonder in a heartbeat.
But no matter how short or brief, wonder is the moment looking at lights under the tree, trying to understand the appeal from your child’s point of view. Wonder is the moment of quiet contentment with everyone listening to the Christmas story, the unleaded version straight from the Bible after what felt like a harrowing day of too many cookies, too many activities and too many tantrums to mention.
Wonder is a moment. Wonder is a bit of peace and awe mixed together. Wonder is the silent, jaw-dropping firework display that is what Jesus was, and what He did for us. That is my true definition of wonder.
Liz Rasley 
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