Only four more posts in this 31 Days of Right Here journey, and I could not have asked for better companions. I am grateful for each of you who’ve stopped by, whether you’ve read often or only once, commented or thought silent thoughts. Regardless, I hope you’ve considered a bit more the gift that is your right here.
Last night, a good friend asked me how I’ve written so many days in a row, and I answered, “It’s God.”
And it’s true.
Each day this month, I’ve held the intention to write, and I show up living as awake as I can be, but truth be told, I am tired of writing and paying such close attention, friends. People do much harder things in this world day after day after day, but this is my right here faith walk, so I keep asking the God of infinite supply to help me.
Help me see these everyday ordinary life circumstances as something more.
I imperfectly hold hands, heart and prayers open and these manna flakes come, and they are enough for each day because they’re what I’ve been given. And then I catch sight of the way God is working through fluttering flake words to provide for another person, and it is miracle. Truly.
Yet, this is what God does.
Of course, not just through me and those who put pen to paper or fingers to keys, but for each of us: we receive and are fed, and we pass on the gift.
This 31 Days of Right Here — goodness, this life of trying to live and stay right here — is not for our own self-improvement and happiness alone. Likely our joy and gratitude will continue to increase as we slow to see, appreciate, live what truly is, but always our gifts are for sharing.
Frederick Buechner said it so beautifully: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
This month, I’ve been feeling the deep gladness and the deep hunger acutely and am asking God how he would have me and my family love and serve, what that might look like in flesh and bone form. I want eyes to see that way.
I do not know exactly how your right here will affect your nudge, push and pull to touch and help and listen and move in the world, but I know that it does and will. These hands we’ve been given are for receiving blessings and then — recognizing we have something to offer — stretching them right on out.
This is Day 28 of Right Here. Throughout October, I’m joining with a community of bloggers (linking up with The Nester) — all of whom are writing each day of the month about a topic of their choosing. To find all posts in 31 Days of Right Here, click here, or see the listing below.
To continue receiving these daily words, subscribe to this blog on the sidebar at left, click here to Like Draw Near on Facebook or follow me on Twitter @AshleyMLarkin. I am immensely grateful to share the journey with you.
POSTS IN THE SERIES
An introduction: Welcome to 31 Days of Right Here
Day 1: For You, Too
Day 2: Fear’s Invitation
Day 3: My Portion
Day 4: Five Minute Friday: Write
Day 5: Rise and Shine
Day 6: My Joys Mount As Do the Birds
Day 7: A Mother’s Fierce Love
Day 8: When Life’s A Mad Rush – How To Slow Time
Day 9: The Fight For Right Here Told Through Two Tales of Epic Whining (Part I)
Day 10: The Fight For Right Here Told Through Two Tales of Epic Whining (Part II)
Day 11: Five Minute Friday: Ordinary
Day 12: When Right Here’s A Mess
Day 13: O God, We Thank You
Day 14: The Date That Almost Wasn’t
Day 15: One Thing That Makes Us Human
Day 16: That We Might See And Remember
Day 17: In Which I Hit A Wall
Day 18: Five Minute Friday: Laundry
Day 19: When You Can’t Hold All The Moments
Day 20: Let Me Walk In Beauty
Day 21: Tend This Seed
Day 22: Just One More Click Away
Day 23: A Reset
Day 24: What We Hold
Day 25: Five Minute Friday: Together
Day 26: The Middle School Dance
Day 27: A Prayer For Hands, Mind And Heart
Day 28: On Cupped Hands And Giving From Right Here
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Loved connecting with all my friends from CMD last night! Sitting at my kitchen table this AM all snug in my cozy zip up sweatshirt. We saw some new”acting” talents emerge on the 60’s Silver Screen. What a Hoot! Thanks for another fun party. You are dear to our hearts .
You are so dear to us, too, Janet. Was a joy to see you at the CMD event. A good time, wasn’t it?
Such an important message…just what I needed to hear today! So thankful for you daily sharing your gift of encouraging words!
Can’t wait to see you again, Darcy. Always a joy to “see” you here. xoxo
I love what Frederick Buechner said – “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” I know that these 31 days, nearly over, have been such a love labor, the receiving and the sharing. You reach into deep deep places, and that is hard hard work. Your words, the ones God has given you to say, have been food to us Ashley. May there soon be deep and quiet rest for you!! I love you.
I love you. Thank you, Mama. Sure has been good for me to see so practically how I must receive in order to give.
I have been awed by your commitment to write, by those manna bits that have fed me day by day as I see God’s heart spilling through your fingers. THANK YOU for sharing your gift. For doing the hard thing and staying awake and letting us all peek into your life for these 31 days. Long ago, a marriage counselor taught my husband and I to cheer each other on in a silly and fun way… to just stand up on a chair and start clapping and whoo-whooting loudly. So, at our house, we often stand on chairs and make a ruckus in honor of someone’s accomplishments. Wish you could see me… here I go… standing on the edge of the couch… cheering loudly- “Way to Go Ashley, way to go… whoo.. whooo…” :) I’m proud of you friend. Blessed by you. Glad the same God that has fed your soul and spurred you on has connected us across the miles. Love you-
Oh, Alicia. I LOVE that cheering each other on. I think that is something we should add to our family’s repertoire. Such fun and joy to celebrate like that with one another. And you on the edge of your couch cheering for me — well, that just made my day.