GO EASY!

I'm once again joining with the writers of Five Minute Friday, where we are given a theme word each Friday, where we write for five minutes and resist the urge to edit or tidy it up.  

This week's theme word is EASY.

Sometimes you just have to go easy on things, even when you don't want to, or you had plans or deadlines or an agenda.  I hate being told to go easy, or to take a rest.

This week, I broke the scaphoid bone in my left hand, but I keep forgetting it's broken.  It's not a visually obvious injury, except when I wear the brace.   Sometimes it aches, but mostly it doesn't.   But if I put pressure on it, the pain soon reminds me that there is in fact something wrong.

Pain is a gift.  It's an indicator that it's necessary to go easy on that part of your body and to find out what's going on.

We need to go easy in difficult conversation too, though not take the 'easy' way out by not having those hard conversations.  I have done that for too long because it was too hard, and previous conversations were complicated and heated and only seemed to make things worse. 

There is no easy way forward on some things, but once we've made that decision to do what's hard and to face it, it's still important to give careful thought to our steps.  

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.   Prov 4:26

If I don't go easy on this hand, the small fracture could turn into a huge problem, that would require surgery and months of rehab.

If I don't go easy in this next conversation, it may be the last decent one we have. 

I recently discovered this little command in between two significant verses that I've heard many times.  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!     Let your gentleness be evident to all.   The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.    And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Phil 4:4-7

Let your gentleness be evident to all.  I hadn't noticed that bit until recently.     It came to me that we can't be gentle or go easy unless we remember that God is near.  Because if we're working out of our own strength, our own fears, our own understanding, our own solutions, then we'll be anxious and busy and pushy.   But if we choose instead to rejoice in Him, to bring everything to Him, with gratitude, with faith, with trust, and to receive His peace, then we'll rest in Him, we'll relax, and gentleness kicks in and we CAN go easy, on ourselves, and on others.   

As always, a song to finish on.   This has to be one of my all-time favourites.  So many truths here, so many reminders of His promise, His life, His hope.   

This I know

At the whisper of Your name

There is peace I can't explain

I am fearless, I am safe

Here with You, here with you

Every promise that You speak

Every word is life to me

I am breathless, I'm in awe

Here with You, here with You