As I’ve mentioned, I used a great deal of my summer break to ponder and pray about my purpose- as a mother, as a wife, as a human being, but especially as author of Life Happens When. I’ve been trying desperately to listen to God’s call and surrender to it.
After many hours in quiet contemplation and even more time in conversation with friends and family, I’ve concluded that I am heeding God’s call.
I am a passionate writer and have been since I was in the first grade. I know God gifted me this talent and I know He meant for me to use my words to create good in the world.
I hoped and prayed that my writing would pull double duty, though. I wanted to create good, offer inspiration, encourage others. Was it so much to ask that I might make a little money, too? And that’s where my discouragement and confusion stemmed from.
We all want to think our ideas are awesome, right? We all want to do what we love and be successful at it! I’m as human as the next person.
As I grappled with my feelings of frustration and failure this summer, I came to realize a few universal truths.
What I want and what God wants are not always one in the same.
Success is not necessarily measured by how much money we make.
Most people spend years developing a talent or a craft.
While I have been writing since first grade, I haven’t been writing in a defined niche for very long at all. While I haven’t made one penny off this blog, I’ve talked to many readers who’ve encouraged me to continue encouraging them.
I am excited and very pleased to tell you that after many months of deliberation, I believe with my entire being that I’m right where I need to be.
I’ll still be moving forward, plugging along, making a few minor changes here and there, but staying true to who I am and who I’ve always been.
I hope you’ll stay along for the ride!
Life happens when we realize we are right where we need to be!
Stop by tomorrow where I’ll clear a few things up as to who I am exactly and what you can expect from me in the future! See you then!
© 2012, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.
I know exactly what you are feeling. I feel that way about moving away from Louisville and away from close friends and family. I know that we will move back at some point but strongly believe there was a reason for us to move to Evansville, along with all of the things that have happened while living in another city. Keep up the hard work, it will eventually pay off in more ways then you will ever know! I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog and would agree that you are a talented writer!
You definitely inspire and encourage me with your blog, so I am glad God has put you here to write!
All of us on the internet in various ways should think of it as a means of building one another up in faith and life, a means of using the gifts we’ve been given to help one another. You certainly have a gift for writing. It may not make money right now, but in using it as a means of giving yourself, you will grow as a person and help others to grow.
The internet is a great blessing for mothers, and it doesn’t have to “interfere” with family. A deeper understanding and deeper solidarity with others will make you a better mother, with a richer perspective to share with your children.
All of us must bring prayer to our work on the internet, so that it might be a true *work*–a way of serving God and one another–rather than a distraction. I firmly believe that the Lord wants this, and will give us the grace to carry it out.