
+Jeanne Takenaka @JeanneTakenaka
Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—COLLECT. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. I write for five minutes on a given topic. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out our hostess, Kate Motaung’s site. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!
COLLECT
What do you collect?
I used to collect tea cups—one from every country I have visited. I’ve collected stamps, scrapbook papers, and other things that I would use or hope to use.
I’ve recently discovered I’ve been collecting something else.
Hurts.
I know, it sounds horrible. But I have. I’ve stored up in my mind and my heart those painful memories, hurtful words, and spiteful actions others put upon me.
God’s recently been showing me that I have a tendency collect these things.
Though collecting tea cups can add beauty to a shelf or a space, and stamps and scrapbooking paper can create beauty and reminders of special times . . .
Collecting hurts? That only promotes a whole lot of ugly.

Unforgiveness.
Bitterness.
Painful sores on my heart.
God is reminding me that I need to let go of those hurts. To forgive, which is a hard, hard process.
Those hurts? They keep coming up to the surface of my thoughts. Different nuances of the conversations and situations reveal themselves.
The only way I can truly forgive is to make the decision I’m going to, and then ask God to enable me to.
Forgiveness is a choice made over and over again.
For the people who have hurt me, and I’m still holding onto those hurts? I’m asking God to give me a heart that genuinely loves them. Yes, LOVES them.
Each time a memory comes up and an acerbic word slips from my mouth? I have to confess it to God. Which reminds me to pray for that person, and for my own heart.
Some hurts can only be forgiven with God’s help. Some wounds can only be healed with God’s touch.

For me, the first step is admitting I have a problem. With the person. The wounds of the memory.
The next step is confessing my own sin of withholding forgiveness.
The third step is choosing to let go of the hurt and ask God to change me (before I ask for change in the other person).
I’m tired of collecting hurts, and them taking up space on the shelves of my heart. I want beauty to replace the ugly that’s been on display.
What about you? What do you collect? How do you work through forgiving the hard to forgive?
I’m linking up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday—Collect
By the way, Susan Shipe has coordinated The FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY BOOK with a number of Five Minute Friday posts in it. It released on Monday, September 26th! If you choose to purchase one, all the funds go to support two ministries in South Africa: The Vine School in Cape Town, and The Ten Dollar Tribe. Please consider helping these ministries and being blessed by the words of many wonderful writers!

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