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. Then, post and encourage others who have braved the exercise by linking up on the Five Minute Friday spot on Facebook at fiveminutefriday.com. That’s the fun part!

To entice you to check us out, I’ve also been sharing some of the experiences my fellow writers have shared as chronicled in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat. This week, I hope Vittoria’s words inspire you to join our writing club.

“I have always loved the art of writing although I have struggled to believe in my writing ability. I never felt it was good enough. After deciding to face my fears, I created a blog and to no avail, the words simply wouldn’t come. I needed encouragement. That is when I found the Five Minute Friday community. Two things I adore about this community. Not worrying whether my writing is good enough. I’m able to share my heart without the weight of perfection. I also enjoy meeting other amazing writers. I’ve been able to share in other’s sadness, joys, success and I’ve even been encouraged to write more. I’m thankful for this community. I may have given up writing had I not taken “five minutes” to step outside my comfort zone.”

So, the timer is set for five. The word for the week this week is BEFORE … so here goes. {clock starts now}

I didn’t sleep well last night. Well, I slept okay, but just kept waking up, although I was generally back in la la land quickly. Finally, around 5 a.m., instead of just closing my eyes for the umpteenth time, I got up and glanced out the window. It was well before the sun came up, so everything was so dark. I decided to walk around the house, peeking out windows in the pre-dawn hours. Darkness on all sides. Little movement and what there was I could barely see in the light from the porch.

I woke up for the day around 6:30. When I looked out the window, light replaced the darkness of before. Little slivers of light started illuminating my surroundings. I could make out the trees and the neighbors’ houses. A car started in the driveway next door, its lights flickering through the bushes. I spotted a bird or two. As I got ready to take  the dog out, the sun came into … STOP

… view, it’s light bouncing off the pond. The day brightened … quite a contrast from before.

All I could think was the lyric line, “… Then came the morning …”

Of course, I’ll probably need a nap later, but … This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24 ESV

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don’t have. — Woody Allen