Five Minute Friday: Free

It’s Friday and time for some free writing! This week’s prompt is FREE. Oh, how I love this.

In less than a week, my girls will start Summer Band … from 7-4:45. For them, summer break will effectively be over. So today we escaped to the beach for one of our last summer fun times.

A few minutes go, one of my daughters asked me to take a burst of photos as she and her friends raced from the shore into the sea. At this moment, they are care-free. They aren’t thinking about school starting, about daily assignments, projects, tests, class rank. They are having pure, unbridled fun. They are worry-free, enjoying the moment.

As an adult, I often wish I could live like that again. But parents have unending responsibilities, so we’re always thinking ahead, planning for the future–hoping to be ready for whatever eventuality awaits.

I’m reminded of two Scriptures. Although planning is important,

… don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)

And all the things we care about?

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Certainly, we still care–deeply.

But the question for me is, do those cares consume my thoughts and keep me from living in the present?

Often, the answer to that is a simple, Yes. Here at the beach, though, the soothing surf rolling in … over and over … I wonder how I let myself get in that place? It’s not hard when I remember all that has happened in the last couple of months.

We all need respite. Care-free from the responsibilities of LIFE … to recharge and renew our over-wrought minds and bodies. Where is your place?

(… and there they go again! Rushing into the waves …)