Another Saturday. Another Five Minute Friday post.

You know the drill. We get our weekly prompt, let the spirit flow for five minutes, post, link up in the Community section at www.fiveminutefriday.com, and — best part — visit other writers in our to support and encourage them.

For the past few months, I have also been sharing testimonials from writers as outlined in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat. This week, I’ll share some words from Nickolee’s heart.

“God used FMF in my life to teach me how to show myself grace. All the second, third and fourth read-throughs were gone and my heart was able to be shared. FMF changed the way I write — it helped me be vulnerable with my readers and myself.”

Yes. We all have a story to tell. This community is a perfect place to start.

The prompt this week is BEAUTY. The timer is set, so it’s time to GO …

There is so much ugliness in the world. There is so much hate in the world. Even the snow, once it hangs around for a day or so, has tinges of dirt and debris specked atop it.

But, the converse is true as well. There is so much beauty in the world. There is the fresh powdery snow. There is the love that transcends the ugliness and bitterness, even in tragedies.

I was reminded of this as I reviewed my nightly blessings. Practically all week, my blessing was about beauty in nature … a cross atop a church steeple penetrating the fog, the light fluffy powder, the patterns in the sky and water, the sunrise and sunset.

The point is, sometimes we have to look for that beauty. We get in a mindset — a funk — and it frames our thought. We often don’t take the time to look around and marvel at the beauty all around us. That’s not our doing. That’s God’s doing.

Enjoy the beauty. Look for it every day. Savor it … and give thanks to the Creator who created it all. … STOP

Look for the love. Recognize it’s all around you — family, friends, God. Savor it … and give thanks to the Creator who blesses it all.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it. — Sidney Howard