I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and the Five Minute Friday crew. If you’re new to this community, the assignment is simple. Write, for five minutes. No editing, no fluffing, no second-guessing. Then we link up, share our stories, and leave each other comments. It’s one of my favorite communities, and we’d love for you to join us!
Prompt: See
I see you, friend. On the other side of the screen. Searching through Facebook, Twitter, blogs – trying to find a community that gets you. A place where you can kick your feet up and feel at home. The kind of community that not only welcomes you in with open arms, but has specifically saved you a seat, in anticipation of your arrival. You’re looking for a place where your piles of dirty laundry, the overflow of dishes in the sink, the never ending picking up of the same toys again…and again…it’s all invited to come in. Just as you are.
This little space? I hope you feel like you can always come over and hang out. In yoga pants, fuzzy socks, hair undone, no make-up – however you feel comfortable. Those chairs & that bench on the home page of my site? The new tagline? It’s for you, sister. I’ve saved you a seat – I want you to come in. I’ve been praying over our time together and want you to know that you are wanted. You are wonderful. And while you might see words that God inspires to be strung together in ways that touch hearts, this space is authentic.
The “me” you find here is the same one you would find on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, the local coffee shop, and late nights with my family. I have seen how damaging online community can be when the people you encounter online are not the same in real life. When the edited reality of it all makes us expect too much, and then doubt who we are.
I see you, friend. I have the coffee ready and I’m so excited that you’ve come to spend time with me. I’ve saved you a seat.
STOP.
LOVE THIS!! you have a genuine knack for making people (i.e. ME) feel welcome! thank you thank you thank you!! ♥
I see you too! Thank you for being real.
Um how cute is that font with that blog badge? Made me smile 🙂
Loved this post and I’m so happy to have a seat next to you to chat!
Crystal, it’s human nature to desire community, to have others see us but too often we find ourselves hurt, huddled in a corner licking our wounds from pain caused by community. Your words & your heart give hope to those who desire to be seen and included in community. Thank you.
Hello ladies. This was my first FMF and I wanted to do it last week but I chickened out because I didnt think I was good enough to be part of this community. But this week I said to myself that I’m going to hit publish. I must say that the encouragement has been really awesome. And I join in Holly’s prayer that we all welcome each other in RL as we do online too.
I love this post. I felt like I was having hot tea with a friend. Made me smile.
Lovely post, Crystal. I pray we all welcome one another inRL and online too!
Just like the previous commenter Katie, I too feel hopeful. I long to just embrace all and encourage all – for we all have such amazing things to say and share. Thanks for being a bench builder.
Funny, I’ve spent awhile now looking for the right online community for me. Some seem too large to even notice me and others seem to narrow in focus that I don’t think I will fit. Sometimes I feel like giving up, deciding that I won’t make lasting connections there anyway. In the end, I usually just fall victim to the thought that they’re all filled with perfect, beautiful people and I will never belong. You’ve given me hope today, though, and I will keep my heart open to His leading!
Love you. So, so grateful to be on your bench.
This is great, girl. You’re such a sweetheart.
Nell
Aw, thank you 🙂
Thank you for open not just your space her but your heart to this community, to me personally. So often I wonder if it is all worth it. Can real community really happen for me ? As mixed up, broken, confused and messy as I am is there a place I can fit? A place I can be real and still be loved? Then you (or another sweet sister) share their words. To remind me we are all messy and need one another. Thank you for for always welcoming me in with a smile.
Perfect only looks pretty – messy has layers & interest 😉
Good Morning, Crystal! I love the take you have on the word See. What a lovely gift, to see someone in their mess, and welcome them in because of, not in spite of, it. Aren’t we all a little messy? I too hope to write from the truth of my life, not the varnished version. People need to see that we are all in this together, and stop the comparison drama! Lovely, lovely words!
Thank you so much Rachael!
Seriously, Crystal, I’m in tears over this post. Add to that, your Wednesday (I think) post, and I’m just a big puddle of mush. I can’t tell you how many times I question if there is a place for me, if I’m relevant, if I belong in the blogging community, should I give up, etc. These past two posts have reached down deep and met me where I was. It’s like God specifically used you to write a letter to me. I know it wasn’t specifically for me, but He used it as such. Thank you so much!
Oh Chandra, I’m so blessed to read your words. I never know who my posts are for – and usually they’re mostly for me 😉 – but I’m so glad you were encouraged!