31 Days of 5-Minute Free-Writes

Day 5: Share

When my children were younger, if one of them saw another with something they liked, say, some M&Ms or cookies, I would hear them say, “Sharing is caring.” In other words, “Please give me some.”

We have reached the fifth day of my book-baby shower for Reflections of a Mother’s Heart, and today I am going to share a story with you from the book. In fact, this may well be my favorite of all the anecdotes. I know without a doubt, when I think back on the highlights of motherhood, my mind inevitably hits the replay button at this very moment. So please read it and tell me what you think…

The Things Kids Say

“What If?”

Today’s math lesson was on Heavier/Lighter, and we were comparing several household objects which I had brought into the “classroom.” When we were done talking about the objects on the table, I recalled to their memory what it was like in the summertime when we played on the teeter totter in the backyard. Ours, by the way, is a Little Tykes teeter totter in the shape of an airplane. I said, “Matthew, if you were to get on one end of the airplane, and if I were to put Mary Beth on the other end, what would happen?”

Matthew (5) answered that he would go down to the ground and Mary Beth (1½) would go up in the air because she’s lighter and he’s heavier. “That’s right,” I affirmed. “Now, what would happen if you got on one end and I got on the other?”

His answer: “The wing would break.”

When we share our experiences with others, we multiply our joys and divide our sorrows. That expression may be cliche by now, but it’s still true.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” By telling our stories we are fulfilling the law of Christ. We are coming alongside our peers and shouldering the burden with them by our encouragement while at the same time allowing them the privilege of doing us the same favor.

Kate Motaung, host of Five-Minute Friday, has challenged us to 31 Days of Five-Minute Free Writes, in which we will explore the telling of our story. This isn’t the first such challenge of hers, but it is the first for me. Thank you for sharing it with me.

For a list of links to all my posts for this challenge, click here.