Welcome to this week’s edition of Five Minute Friday! If you’re new here, all of the details are right over here.
And in case you missed last week’s post, there’s still a bit of time to sign up for Round Four of Five Minute Friday Snail Mail, coordinated by the lovely Kaitlyn Bouchillon! Who doesn’t want to get fun cards from fellow Five Minute Friday writers in their mailbox each week?! More info can be found here.
Click here to register now! Deadline for this round is November 23rd.
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This week’s Five Minute Friday prompt is:
This one is for you. For when you wonder if it’s worth it. When you’re fresh out of words and just plain tired of typing. When you’re discouraged by low stats or zero pageviews. It’s for when nobody comments after you’ve bled onto the screen and you regret clicking publish.
You pour out your heart in liquid words. A drink offering. Tonic for the soul.
You hold out the cup with humble hands and wait for a thirsty pilgrim to wander up the dusty road.
But no one comes.
You pour more, richer this time, and people pass by, but don’t stop.
They don’t even look you in the eye.
Finally someone reaches out to accept your gift, swallows it down and walks away without a word. Not even a thank you.
You wonder if it’s worth it. This continual pouring and serving until you’re just about run dry. Why bother? Why give of yourself every day, standing on the roadside with arms lifted palms up?
Then you look up in wonder and the clouds break. In a ray of light He smiles down a well done, good and faithful servant.
And you know that Someone noticed.
Link up your own five minutes of writing below! And don’t forget to stop and take a drink from the person holding out the cup before you. And say thank you.
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You know, apparently you really WERE speaking my language! Because I’ve been feeling a little on the discouraged side lately, and wondering if my writing energy should be poured into blogging so much…
So, thank YOU!! This was what I needed to hear tonight, and something I need to keep in mind. You’ve given me some perspective tonight, which was just what my heart needed.
Aww, so glad! Thank you for sharing that!
Me, too, Jen! I didn’t write my normal Wednesday post because all I could think was, Who cares? No one is listening anyway! When this popped up in my feed last night, I was so encouraged. Thank you, Kate!
Awww I care! Though since #write31days, I haven’t been reading as much. Sigh! But we’ve gotta stop thinking our words aren’t important, just because nothing “goes viral”. Now it’s time to wander over and look at all the IncredibleK-ness I’ve missed the past couple of weeks! 😀
I’m so glad we’re noticed, even more, we’re seen by our Heavenly Father! What a heart-touching post, Kate. Thanks so much for the reminder that there is always ONE who notices us. There are days I need to remember that. 🙂
Amen! Thanks for your ongoing encouragement, Jeanne! Blessings on your weekend!
Very encouraging, Kate. Thank you for the reminder that everything we do ultimately is for the Audience of One.
Amen! Thank you for being here!
What lovely words of encouragement! It’s hard to remember to write for an audience of One. When everyone around us clamors about the next hot way to “grow your platform” and “reach more readers” and “get into the big games,” I quickly lose sight of why I’m writing.
Thank you for the gentle reminder, sweet Kate.
I’m right there with ya! Need to remind myself as well .. xx
Dear Kate- Thank you for noticing that we needed this post. About once a month (guess which week?) I am tempted to walk away from this all…does it matter? Is the pouring out- this expensive offering- just hitting the floor? In a noisy, crowded room is my voice drowned out by all the noise and blinded by all the shining bling present? Thank you for speaking to this try-hard woman who mainly writes to feel sane and possibly smart, yet secretly hopes her word-offering might change the world (or at least a small corner of it). Love, Katie
So glad to know it struck a chord, Katie! And yes, I definitely have days and weeks when I feel exactly the same! Grateful for your important role in this small corner of influence.
It’s so easy to get caught up on the business side of blogging, which requires that we take notice of the numbers and platform building and all of that… for me, in this season anyway, when I do that – I am drained! I have to remember – and re-remind myself, that what I am called to is not a business but a ministry… and ministry, at the very heart of it, is all about relationships! Sometimes we get to know how these words tapped out impacted a heart and other times we have no clue. But always – it blesses His heart and when I remember that, that is always enough!
Im so glad i read this blog and others tonight. i was feeling a little lost and wondering why I alone was feeling un noticed. But ive realised that we all jounrey through this thoughts and worries and we all need a little reminder that he notices.
Thank you again beautiful lady for the wonder of your words xx
Yes! I needed this! I still consider myself a new blogger and its too easy to equate my value based on the comments and connections that my posts receive. God notices me. He has given me a gift to write and will guide those my way that He needs to reach. Period. I am blessed to be a part of this community. Thank you for all you do!
I agree with Karrilee – this is about ministry.
I’m part of each side of that ministry – the physician treats best what he must treat in himself
So, yes, it’s worth it, because it makes me – I hope – a better or at least more self-aware person.
What a wonderful post. Thank you! [And thanks for hosting FMF – it’s come to be one of the highlights of my blogging week (I am continually amazed by the quality of the writing produced and the amazing ideas that pop up in response to the prompts). Thank you].
What a wonderful post. Thank you! [And thanks for hosting FMF – it’s come to be one of the highlights of my blogging week (I am continually amazed by the quality of the writing produced and the amazing ideas that pop up in response to the prompts). Thank you].
THANK YOU Kate for your words, there were much needed and such an encouragement! Thanks for being a faithful host and encouragerer to this community! Happy weekend to you!
Ahhhhh… that last line got me. Thanks for putting to words exactly what it’s like. Beautiful post!
Thank you for this post. I’ve actually been so discouraged about my writing that I’ve considered deleting my blog. It’s funny how I’ve encouraged my friends who are in ministry by telling them not to worry about the number of people who show up to events because God has a plan and He’ll have the people there that He wants to be there. But then I feel all self-pity when no one comments on (what I feel is) a good post I’ve written. I need to realize that the same advice goes for me–God will bring the people to my blog who need to read it, and whether or not they comment, I have to trust that God will use my words for His glory.
Thanks for the encouragement! So good to know I’m not alone. 🙂
Thank you, Kate. I get that. Five Minute Fridays – a great day for blog reading! Really good stuff, quick! Thanks.
What I “noticed” today…My response to Lysa’s transparent post today…
Amen, yes, thank you, Lysa, for this open, honest, transparent post…having been right there where you were, I so agree with you…Love the three gifts…humbled, lonely, silence…reminds me of the three kings and their three gifts for our King Jesus…He, too, was humbled, lonely, and silenced, Silent Night, also reminds me of this question from Pastor Andy Stanley, “What would a girl like you do, in a situation just like the one you are in, if she was absolutely certain that God was with her?” On one occasion when this happened to me, I got up from my seat and sat down in the empty chair next to me and silently thanked my Heavenly Father for wrapping His Loving Arms around me, telling me again that He is my Great Shepherd, and He will never, ever, no not ever, leave me or forsake me…feeling like His Beloved ❤️
Lysa’s post here:
http://www.incourage.me/2014/11/if-you-ever-feel-lonely-read-this.html#comment-341760
Thank you for saying exactly what all of us needed to hear.
I’m nervous as I pursue my writing career – whether I’m paid for it or not – because I feel foolish. But I pray I am only foolish for Christ and can set aside my fears of being unseen.