Here’s this week’s installment of Five Minute Friday. You might remember the task is to write for five minutes on a specific prompt word. The initiative was started by Lisa-Jo Baker  who thought about writing and how often our perfectionism gets in the way of our words. She figured, why not take five minutes and see what comes out: not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. She turned over the reins to Kate Motaung, where our faithful writers write, and share it with others at her place on Facebook at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com.

As an extra enticement, I’ve been using testimonials about the group and the exercise from other members as collected in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Flat. This week’s it’s Somer. I encourage you to listen to the words and visit Kate and her wonderful corps of writers … and maybe be inspired to join in!

“Five Minute Fridays is like an open sketch pad for free flowing thoughts, words and life pictures to collide. It is permission to ponder a simple word, play with the word in your mind, and then place it into the framework of your life. Five Minute Fridays is an exercise in creativity, community and courage. Courage to put yourself out there. Even in small ways and have other creative, courageous people uncover life with you. FMF was like entering a creative workshop late on Thursday nights and letting your imagination and memories create the colors you want to recreate and paint ideas to others. FMF is a kaleidoscope of personality and liufe experiences. One word is the starting point and where does it take everyone? Sometimes you are taken to the exact same places as others and sometimes you smile at the trail others took with the same short word. It is an exercise in variety and diversity of life experience and thought.”

The prompt this week is POTENTIAL. The timer has been set so it’s time to GO…

I always drilled into my children the idea of living up to their potential. I wasn’t trying to force them into over-achieving, and I wasn’t condoning under-achieving. I wanted them to discover the spark in their lives, that passion that drives them to be the best they could be. I wanted them to understand how their interests and talents blended … some their minds, other their mechanical skills.

As I look back, I wonder if I lived to my potential. I don’t know. I guess I’ll get the score when I reach the pearly gates.

I do know when I wasn’t feeling the passion and going through the rote motions, I under-achieved. If I was too busy focusing on what others expected of me, my work — and self-worth — suffered.

It’s a danger we, as parents, face. … STOP

… How much prodding is too much? How much is too little?

As I annually counseled graduates: Dream your dreams. Follow your ambitions. Set your goals. But, above all, be true to yourself. Do the best you can … with an emphasis on the word “you.” You’ll know. You’ve always known when you gave it your all … and so did everyone else. You’ve always known when you didn’t … and so did everyone else.

Don’t try to live up to somebody else’s standards. Set your own. Don’t try to please everyone else at your own expense. Eventually you’ll regret it. Keep your faith and trust in humanity. Look for the good in people and the bright side of every calamity. All things have a purpose … you just have to look a little deeper for some.

Each child — and adult — is different. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if we all developed our own potential.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: When you don’t understand — choose to love God and praise Him anyway.