It’s Friday and Five Minute Friday time!

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 to support and encourage them.

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

“Five Minute Friday taught me the importance of blogger community. The suspense of the ‘word’ from Kate, receiving the word and hammering away for five precious minutes (I never knew five minutes could be so short), sharing and reading the creativity of other bloggers, affirming and receiving affirmation, all comprise this wonderful family of five minute Friday-ers. These dear souls accept, love, support and pray for one another in true fellowship and community. I don’t always get to participate but when I do, it’s like walking into a room full of old friends.”

Amen!

With that, the timer has been set so it’s time to tackle this week’s prompt — TIRED. GO …

Let’s face it. We all get tired. Life wears us down. We don’t get enough seep. We’re constantly on the go.

But, how do you act when you’re tired?

For me, I tend to get silly. I’ll find something humorous in  an everyday statement or situation. My kids could always tell when I pulled an all-nighter. And they often remind me I have been known to do some outrageously funny things when sleep deprived {like playing ping pong with a ball at the dinner table that ultimately ended up in the coffee … but that’s another story.} My ears are generally the first to shut down, followed not too soon thereafter by my eyes.

The same is true with my spiritual life. I have been known to “put off” time with the Lord because I was sleepy. My reasoning was I couldn’t give the Lord my full attention, but let’s face it, that’s an excuse. True time with the Lord is always refreshing.

But I do it … and probably you do it as well. It’s all to easy to shut down when we’re tired. It’s too easy to slink into a restful position … STOP

… rather than push through.

Now, I’m not advocating push, push, push. But I am advocating taking the time for yourself to minimize those times of tiredness.

Well, those are my pearls of wisdom {sow’s ears} for the week. Don’t tire yourself out to the point of exhaustion. Live life with your eyes wide open.

As an aside, I will be preaching Sunday at Dover-Foxcroft United Methodist Church. Please pray the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Your work isn’t your life. Your life is your life. — Rick Warren