Bouquet 2

31 Days of Practicing Faith

In October, I am free writing for five minutes a day—raw and unedited—on practicing faith in the every day. Each day is based on a different prompt from 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes. 

{Day 29} - Date

He smiles in the booth next to me, those big brown eyes filling my vision. He didn't want to sit across from me at dinner but scooted up right next to me, close enough to touch. We talk and laugh a little, but mostly I just watch him. I try to memorize every moment of our date because I know they won't come as often as I would like and one day he won't look forward to them like he does now.

My husband and I made a commitment when we got married to try to date regularly and we don't get out as often as we'd like. But that's not what tonight is about. Tonight I'm on a date with another boy...my son.

The practicing of connecting with him can so easily get lost in everyday life. So whenever I can, I let him pick what we will do. Tonight it is the arcade and laughing over milkshakes. He's five, so that's pretty much the pinnacle of dates. And he's also not too old to hold my hand as we walk into the restaurant. I know that day is coming, so I hold on as tightly as he'll let me.

In all the responsibilities God has given me in this life, this one is the most precious. His very future is made in what we do today. Who he is becoming and what values shape his life are being formed. If I don't slow down, I'll miss these precious opportunities altogether. So, for a few more minutes we share a plate of fries and this moment together.

 JOIN THE CONVERSATION {LEAVE A COMMENT}

{Click} to read all 31 Days of Practicing Faith 

31 Days of Practicing Faith

In October, I am free writing for five minutes a day—raw and unedited—on practicing faith in the every day. Each day is based on a different prompt from 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes. 

{Day 27} -Bouquet

As I turned them over in my hands, I marveled at the way every variation of red showed up in that one bouquet. Deep reddish black like blood mixed with softer tones and hues. Held together by a simple ribbon, it was the best arrangement I had received in a long time.

She knew they were my favorite so she quickly arranged them together and tied them with the crimson ribbon, sparkling red upon red. It wasn't roses or dahlias that were my favorite and she knew it. The moment we walked outside that day to go on an afternoon walk, I inhaled the crisp fall air and sighed. The leaves were finally turning on the tree in our front yard. The sun glinted on the red leaves dangling loosely, barely still attached to the branches. Many had fallen during the day and scattered over the yard.

My daughter scurried around the yard picking up the gentle offerings that autumn had left us, arranged them in a bouquet of brightly colored leaves. As we walked and noticed the pumpkins appearing on doorsteps and the Halloween decorations going up on porches around the neighborhood, I held my homemade arrangement in on one side and her hand on the other. I knew the leaves would lose their soft glow soon as they dried and turned to dust. But today they were beautiful and today they were mine.

 JOIN THE CONVERSATION {LEAVE A COMMENT}

{Click} to read all 31 Days of Practicing Faith