Time for my Five Minute Friday {??}  contribution. Check out the amazing five minutes takes at Kate’s place on Facebook at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com by our special community of writers.

I’ve been sharing snippets taken from Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat. They are a testament to the value of the exercise. This week, I’ll share some perspective from Andrew. I hope he inspires you to check us out … and maybe join in?

“I looked back over my posts, and the first FMF I did was Oct. 16, 2014. I don’t think I missed one … It’s meant the world to me, this loving wonderful community. Much of my life was lived against a backdrop of feeling quite expendable … to bring back a pithy line from an old Rambo movie, it’s like if you invite someone to a party and he doesn’t show up, it doesn’t really matter. The past [three and a half years] have shown me such a different world! Thank you, Kate, for making that possible.”

I might add, Andrew, his wife Barbara and umpteen rescue dogs live in New Mexico. Andrew is also dying … in the latter stages of pancreatic cancer which has knocked him down, but not out. He has vowed to participate as long as the Lord allows him to … and the Five Minute Friday community always await his wit and wisdom. Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat was in fact dedicated to him. For me, his words and his perseverance are a true profile in courage. My thoughts and prayers — along with others around the globe as members of this special community — are always with Andrew and Barb. His words are posted at https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/

Well, the prompt is DONE and the timer is set for five minutes, so lets GO ...

My wife and I didn’t argue very much. Whenever we had a disagreement, it was generally one-sided. Right or wrong, I wouldn’t engage in the “battle” of words. Instead, I would let her vent — five minutes, two hours, three days. When all was said and done, I would add a simple, “Are you done now?” in my best 60s sarcasm, which would, of course, re-ignite the rhetoric … but with a difference. Instead of rehashing everything, we could discuss the root of matter more fully without the entrapment of the heat of battle. Not suggesting it — but it worked for us.

I thought about that as I pondered today’s {Friday’s} prompt. There have been times, I was on the spewing side of the argument with my best friend. And I can hear Him responding after wearing me down, “Are you done now?” And, with a clearer head, we could maneuver through the issue at hand with better clarity.

And after my final vent I … STOP

… hope to hear His voice as He reunites me with those who have gone before me with It is finished … Well done good and faithful servant.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: If someone touched your life, tell them, don’t assume they know.