After a long Christmas and New Year’s break, the Five Minute Friday tribe partied last night. Everything went well – my tweetchat cooperated, the group was fantastic, albeit several of my faves were missing – overall it was super! Until Kate Motaung, our faithful host, gave the one-word prompt for our five minute free write. Seemed like a weird word, but since it was our first party in 2016, I suppose it was appropriate and knowing our fearless leader, Kate, rarely misses, amidst some groans and, “I’ll need to ponder this one,” the party disbanded. I went straight to bed – I don’t write after 3 o’clock in the afternoon – I almost can’t read past that time either!
But now it’s early Friday morning and I woke up thinking about “first.” And, immediately my brain wrote a Five Minute Friday Haiku poem! I’m going to set the timer and see where this goes:
00:00
The last shall be first.
I am the First and the Last.
These are words in red.
To find writing material on just about any word or topic one doesn’t need to look much farther than The Good Book. God, in His divinity, made sure we had a solid reference book for all of life’s questions – and this morning, He even provided the necessary words for this difficult word prompt, FIRST.
What does it mean, the last shall be FIRST? Does it mean the last one in the race will take first place? Does it mean if we allow ourselves to be doormats, we’ll always come up winners? I think not. Jesus spoke of humility – God is very hung up on humility – He desires a humble heart. A humble attitude to serve others. Think of it this way. There’s a long buffet line at an enormous gourmet feast. One’s first thought would be to get at the head of the line to be sure to get all the good stuff – but Jesus says, Go to the back of the line and let your fellow diners go first and if you do that? I’ll make sure there is enough of the finest delicacies saved special for YOU.
See,
The last shall be first. (Matthew 20.16)
Because,
The First and The Last said so. (Revelation 22.13)
These are words in red!
05:00
xo
Susan, I love this! Haiku is really fun and a challenge, but it helps to put into fewer words something with great meaning. You have captured a lot in those few lines about “first” and it’s great. I haven’t written a fmf post yet, but I did write something earlier last night. Blessings to you and have a great weekend!
I think Haiku is my new “thing”. I’ll be reading you later. xo
Excellent! Profound and to the point. Really liked the buffet illustration.
Shelby, it had to be the Lord because I don’t do “analogies”!!!
That is brilliant! I love how you can say so much in so few words. One day maybe I’ll learn to be concise.
Carly, music to my ears because I never want to use too many words to say one little thing!!!
Love the haiku! When I worked at camp, we always did trivia games to decide the eating order. I had one group that was very whiney and was often chosen last. I used to quote that verse to them all the time during that week. I too believe it is about being humble too. I’m over in the #6 spot this week.
Great minds, eh? xo
We did write on the same thing! It’s humbling when God calls us to be last.
Yes ma’am!!! Maybe He saves the best for the last!
The words in red are important, and you’ve given me an always-needed reminder of how important humility is when trying to live up to the red words. Thank you! (I have a hard time writing after 3 pm too!)
Thank you for coming by, Beth and AFTER 3 o’clock!!!
I love where you took this word. Powerful, Susan! So glad to be in the FMF Tribe with you! Bless you.
Thanks for coming over, Julie!
Nicely done! Our human nature wants to be first (especially if you’re second born, like me :/), so it’s good to hear reminders that God’s math and accounting aren’t anything like mine!
I’m number two of two siblings…a leader I am not but my sister sure is! Glad you came by, Anita.
Susan,
oh how perfectly our posts intertwined! 🙂 First and last and humble. Except you wrote it for me. Because I couldn’t.
Love love love you! Hope I was one of your “faves that you missed”.
Love,
Tammy
(#53 on FMF this week)
YES, you are one of my FAVES!!! xo
Amen! I love the way God spoke to you through this word. I love the thought of patience and waiting and being humble and serving Him and trusting in His timing for all things!
Christine, lovely to see you at my place!
Thank you, Susan! SO GOOD! Now I admit that I couldn’t write a haiku if somebody were to offer me $$ to do it….LOL, but, I sure enjoy it when others more gifted than me DO IT! Thanks again.
Haiku is easy! 5-7-5, syllables that is!!!