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.
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!
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.
Yes, my view is good.
Jen 🙂
Yes! When we look with His eyes our hearts say “yes!”
Thank you for visiting!
Jen 🙂
Awesome view, bless you.
Thank you!
Jen 🙂
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)
Our mom was really great at making things for us (the hammocks were made out of old curtains). Thanks for visiting!
Jen 🙂
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!
Thanks for visiting!
Jen 🙂
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!
Yes – so much physical beauty there! Thanks for visiting, Mom.
Jen 🙂
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:)
Thanks for the kind words, Joy! Keep fighting the good fight daily.
Jen 🙂
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 🙂