FMF | Picking Up Our Crosses (and Dropping Our Laundry)

This post is part of the Five Minute Friday blog link-up. Where I join up with a community of writers and bloggers of all ages and stages who gather around a single-word prompt to free-write, unscripted, unedited, for five minutes.

I’ll be honest, sometimes it seems like we do a lot of picking, doesn’t it? Picking up clothes off the floor and picking what to wear,  picking up groceries, picking our garden harvests, picking our way through a crowded store or parking lot, picking what to make for dinner, something that can be a conundrum for us readers is picking that next read, and, much to my dismay— picking matching socks. It seems like the word pick is everywhere. It’s a simple, everyday action. You pick a flavor of ice cream, an outfit, and a movie to watch.

But I’ve found myself thinking about this word on a deeper level. It’s not just about choosing socks that match; it’s about the choices we make every day that shape our lives and our relationship with God.

Remember that time when you had to prove you were right just because a family member or friend disagreed with you? Or the heated debate with your family over something utterly trivial? Yep, me too. I used to get so caught up in the need to be right that I’d forget what’s more important: peace.

The Bible encourages us to be wise about what we engage in. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Sometimes, the most spiritual thing we can do is simply not pick a fight. It’s about choosing grace over being right. And trust me, it’s a lot less tiring.

This one is a big one. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” This isn’t about picking up a heavy piece of wood (thankfully!). It’s about a daily commitment to follow Jesus, even when it’s hard. It’s picking self-denial over self-indulgence. It’s choosing to serve others when we’d rather be comfortable. It’s a moment-by-moment decision to live a life that honors God, even when it feels heavy. And in a world that tells us to prioritize “me, myself, and I,” this is a radical choice.

God Picks Us

This is the most incredible part of all. While we are busy picking things—our battles, our clothes, our Hulu shows—God has already picked us. John 15:16 says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

Think about that for a second. Before you did anything, before you made any choice, God’s loving and sovereign hand reached out and picked you. He saw you, knew you, and chose you to be His. This isn’t a cosmic lottery where we hope to be selected; it’s a deliberate, personal, and profoundly loving choice by the Creator of the universe.

So, the next time you’re faced with a decision, big or small, remember this truth. We get to live in a world where we can make choices, but our greatest comfort and security come from knowing that the most important choice has already been made for us. So let’s go out there and live like the chosen people we are. And maybe, let’s also pick up a little less laundry off the floor— Just for a moment.

**You guys know me— I’m always long winded**

I’m linking up this month with these AMAZING Blog Hop/Link-Up party hostesses!