It’s been a few weeks, but I’m back and joining in for my 5 minutes. Won’t you join me over at Lisa Jo’s? Here is my five-minute free write
This weeks prompt: WIDE
I remember lying on the plastic lounge chairs in my mother’s garden. The lines making their mark into my legs, criss-cross lines, turning them to basket weave. My eight year old limbs warmed golden and the shimmer of faint downy hair under the sun’s heat, that spoke of youth. Before the days of shaving and painted toe nails and trying hard.
The days when I no longer skinned my knees on my Powell Peralta skateboard or pedaled hard, sailing my banana seat bike down the middle of our road until the streamers flew back from the handlebars and my hair whipped long, trailing behind me.
Those summers I knew wide spaces and deep breaths and the glorious love of days when the sun sinks late and mom’s voice doesn’t call until 8:30 when winter would have had me tucked into the dark already.
And on some of those days we drive the winding path to the mountain. The narrow road that curves and crosses.
We drive slower there because the path is narrow, the solid line marking off our side of things. And just when the journey seemed agonizing and our legs cramped from the hot seat and the windows blew hot air on our faces, it would break, a turn onto gravel and dust and the tunnel of trees and shadow, into a wide open space.
When I picture grace, it is a wide open thing. A field stretched far and gaping, raw anticipating our footfalls. We race through the tall grass, trampling it down and we run, faces red and panting toward the goal.
The cool of the water running through our fingers and over toes and knees and finally with one consuming gulp, our heads duck beneath the river and we are carried, rocked in the gentle rush. And when we come up for air, we always find our way back.
beautiful! Loved this, especially the image of youth…I remember those kind of summers too!.
Way to go for Five Minute Friday!
Yes, now I live in Oregon and our summers are really short but I love to watch my kids enjoy them like I did when I was young.
Simply beautiful friend. Have missed you. Blessings.
Wendy recently posted..Deep and Wide
I’ve missed everyone too. Glad to be back and so nice to see you here.
Alia Joy. It was my joy envisioning this Grace with you!
Paula Barnett recently posted..Grace {Wide Open}
And it was mine sharing it. Thanks so much for visiting here with me.
I think I need you to teach me how to write.
Your words are refreshing and beautiful. I like to imagine grace like this, and I’m praying that you are feeling some of that wide openness from God at the moment, in the midst of the hard paths. It’s lovely to see you back.
Tanya Marlow recently posted..How do you know if you’re called?
You are sweet, but I’ve read your blog and you don’t need any lessons. I am feeling a lift in my spirits and taking it a day at a time. It’s nice to be back. I missed everyone.
Awesome post.
Denise recently posted..Five Minute Friday/Wide
Thanks Denise.
This piece is poetically beautiful…
“hair whipped long” & “tucked into dark” made me smile.
Deb Weaver
thewordweaver.com
Deb Weaver recently posted..Content in Summer’s Embrace
Thanks Deb. I’ve missed writing lately and I felt like I needed some beautiful words and images in my mind this week. Thankful God reminds me of the beautiful places in my heart where He has laid down cherished memories. And thankful I could make you smile, friend.
I smiled so much when I saw your name in my comments. Welcome back, I’ve missed you and your words. Thrilled that we will be meeting in just over a month. Loved this today. I could feel almost every second of it because I did the exact same things as a kid. It was nice to read this through both of our eyes at the same time. We would’ve had a great time together (if we were the same age) and I know we will in PA.
Amy Tilson recently posted..Wide Open
Oh Amy, you sweet girl. I just love what an encourager you are and I can’t wait to meet you. I see you on Twitter or 5 minute Fridays and in the comments of blogs and you always share so much enthusiasm and love in them. I’m really blessed by you. And yes, we will have a blast in PA!!!!