I am linking up for Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “embrace.” I love spending time with this crew. They bless me beyond words. We’d love to have you join us. Just hop onto Twitter on Thursday evenings and follow the #fmfparty. Hope to see you there!
Tears fell from her eyes as she sat and told her story. Every time she begins to unlock this story and tell more people; tears fall from her eyes as she embraces telling her story. She cannot help but live out her new mantra; words from Brene Brown “The bravest thing you’ll ever do is tell your story.” In telling her story, she continues to embrace who she is.
Her fingers tap across the keyboard as she tells yet another story or writes another poem. Her soul is bursting as the words travel onto the page. Words are her love language and it is words that gives her so much life. In living out these gifts, she again is embracing who God created her to be; a writer–a bearer of the Word made flesh in this broken fractured world.
She wraps her arms around her friend’s shoulders as she grieves. She isn’t afraid to be the shoulder for her to cry on. She wont let go until she knows her friend is ok. In this loving embrace, she reminds her friend that she is not alone in her joy and her grief. Another of the gifts God gave her as she embraces this gift in her life.
There are so many communities that she embraces; that bring her such beauty and grace. She embraces each of them with their unique gifts. There is wine, gin and other beverages spread out on the table. Snacks also for her friends to enjoy. At the table, we sit and break bread. These are communities where we embrace each other in all of our uniqueness. They are places where we are all truly seen, known and loved!
Yes, I needed this reminder to "embrace who you are." I think I forget about myself in all the day to day rush and I really sometimes just need to embrace me and who and what God's called me to be. Thank you for this!
I think many of us forget to embrace ourselves in the busyness of life too. You are so welcome.
Tara, there is such power in embracing who God has crafted us to be—even through the hurts and the hard. When we can accept the true us and share our journey with others? They can be touched and drawn closer to Jesus. We are truly blessed to have communities to be engaged with and embraced within.
Right!?!?
It can be sooo hard and yet sooo necessary to embrace community when you are an introvert like me! Online I feel like myself, but in real life? I get so much anxiety with the idea of community that its often something I avoid. Living with intention and in prayer has really been helping me come out of my shell!
I so understand. You may not believe this, but I am an introvert too…I just fake extrovert really well when I need too.
I have to admit, I've never succeeded in finding the twitter party (much to my chagrin).
That we can be people who willingly embrace others…a good thing yes?
I am sorry to hear that Annette.
Great post, Tara, and your writing's terrific.
It's interesting for me, because I'm further and further from having the faintest idea of 'who I am'; the image fades, ghost-like, as I tried in the past to focus on it, so I gave up.
Ironic, really, as the song I've chosen to accompany my post this week is titled…wait for it…"Who I Am".
#1 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/03/your-dying-spouse-288-being-ok-with.html
Thank You Andrew! I honestly feel like my writing continues to grow the more I write. I can understand where you are at. It makes total sense.
It is so important to embrace who God has made us to be, and when we embrace the difficult parts of our stories it brings healing to ourselves and to others we can encourage. Communities where we can truly be ourselves are so important.
Exactly and yes!!
I keep thinking it should be easy to embrace who God has made me but it takes practice and letting go. This is a beautiful and encouraging message of today's prompt. Thanks Tara.
Right?!?! You're welcome.
Table time, tears with friends, and embracing the now is good for the soul. It is good for relationships. May we continue to be authentic. JKC
Totally and YES!!!
Yes, this is so brave! Thank you for telling your story and for so graciously listening to the stories of others.
Thank You Annie! And thank you for reading and listening to others stories too.
I want to sit at this table. Pass the gin. <3 I love Brene Brown. I love open tables to share, to embrace, to recognize each other's space. Loved visiting today, Tara. Have a super weekend. Your #FMF friend.
🙂 I need to read Brene's books. I love all of her Ted Talks and what I have heard on vulnerability etc. Hope you had a super weekend too friend!
A warm loving embrace from you in your post.
Thanks!
Thank you for the embrace of your post :). Your words are definintely a love language!
You are so welcome!
I love being part of communities where we can seen, known, and loved. Oh, how I would love to sit and share stories with you across a table with you. I am so thankful for the opportunity to sit with you here in this online space. I am so thankful for you, friend!
Me too! It would be fun to sit across the table from you too.
Thanks so much for your reflection, Tara–I love the part about being able to embrace and really be there for other people as we learn to embrace our own story. It is hard to be vulnerable (another important Brene Brown word) but it does bring healing if we have support from God and others through the process.
Jeannie (#27 in FMF linkup this week)
It truly is hard to be vulnerable but is oh so worth it.
Tara, doth thou write about thyself in this? (Practicing my KJV language!!!)
Of course!! 🙂
Beautiful! I tend not to embrace community because it has brought a lot of hurt in the past. You got me thinking.
I am glad that I got you thinking!
Powerful! Ah the grace and gift of Community… (or at least that is what it is MEANT to be, right? Grace and a Gift!) Love you, friend!
Yes grace and a gift for sure. Love you too friend!! xo
Love it, Tara – you paint a picture of wholeness, authenticity, hospitality and warmth. So good!
Thanks Emma!
I live and breathe for community. Your post so beautifully painted the image of the implications of community-where everyone is embraced; seen, known and loved. Our biggest contribution to community is to come as we are. The Holy Spirit moves through our humility and sacrifice. The meal becomes a sacred event.
Me too Stephanie. I had a friend tell me this summer that I am a woman who is made for community. Yes, I love that..the meal as sacred event indeed!
Tara, I think you are a vital part of the glue of FMF. Thank you for pouring out your encouraging comments and for sharing your life with your friends, in person and online. You are a vessel of grace.
Aww that is sweet of you to say Christina. A vessel of grace…I like being called that.
Tara, thank you for your courage, your gifts of love, friendship, encouragement, writing and welcoming, all of which are clearly evident here. In a week where I've failed to fully embrace who I am (not much liking the warts 'n all part!), you have shown me how to do just that and to celebrate our uniqueness, as well as our togetherness, in Christ. Blessed to be a part of your community and to find a seat at the table with you. xo
You're welcome Joy! Glad to sit at the table with you too.
Tara, you bring such a good reminder – embrace who we are. Sounds so simple, yet we often struggle with this. Yet it is as we embrace who we are that we become all God intends for us to be. Grateful to have stopped to read your words this morning. Blessings!
Thanks Joanne! Blessings to you too!
Thank you for these words. We want to be known and cherished. We have both in God but there are times we come across other communities and find the same thing because God already resides there.
You're so welcome.
Tara, this is truly wonderful! I was really touched by your words, and I can relate because words are also my love language. Thank you so much for sharing! And thank you for showing up to this wonderful community every week!
Thank You, Katha! I love that so many of my blog friends have words as their love language too.