“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
My hand twitched and began to move. I watched in dismay at its slow but steady rise into the air. I glanced down at it assuring myself that it was still attached to my body and that I still had control over it. Next my mouth began to form words. There was a tickle in my stomach. My heart started to race. “I want to publish a book,” were the words I heard come out of my own mouth after being called on by my Sunday School teacher. Had I just said that out loud? Those around me were smiling and nodding, so I must have. Well, it was true, but I hadn’t thought about it in a very long time.
Our Sunday School class was reading The Dream Giver, by Bruce Wilkinson. While reading the chapters at home, I really put some thought into what my dream was. Was my dream to be a stay-at-home mom? Yes, that was true. That was a dream I was living. For years, I dreamed of becoming a mother and leaving my teaching job to stay at home with the kids. I would be following in my mother’s footsteps. But lately, I felt the call to do something in addition to being a mom. But what else did I really want to do?
I wanted to write. I love words. Okay, I admit that I’m a big talker. But my love of words was more than the way they spilled out of my mouth. It was the way they sound, the pictures they paint, the stories they tell. I liked to form them, shape them, and weave with them.
It was a blue Smurf folder. That was the special folder I kept my writing in as a child. I wrote poems. I loved the rhymes. Then as a teenager, I fell in love with Shakespeare. The Complete Works of Shakespeare wasn’t what other teenagers had under the Christmas tree, but I was excited to find it under mine. I poured through Romeo and Juliet. Within the safety of my room, I could read the words aloud and even throw in an English accent with a Southern twist.
In college, I was thrilled to get actual credits for taking poetry classes. I’m not sure they had much to do with my teaching degree. How that poetry helped me to be a good mother, I’m not so sure either. But I knew it fostered my love of writing into adulthood. What did that have to do with God, though? A lot, I came to find out…
Join me for the conclusion tomorrow.
Blessings Carol,
I am so thankful that I have come to know you and share Jesus together.
Please come and visit me so I can honor that closeness & friendship:
http://mazmagi.blogspot.com/2008/09/proximityclose.htm
Friday's 9-19 post.
"For I know the plans…" How I love Jeremiah…and your realization! More later!
Trust me you are a writer in progress we all can tell what a blessing you will be as an author…and since you say you are a talker…perhaps a speaker also…for what other reason than wonderful fellowship/sistership
did you go to She Speaks Conference?
Oh yeah, to meet Lysa & the P31 team!
I wonder how God will use you & your writing skills…I pray that book is being published by now!!!
But meanwhile, be the fantastic fun mom…we love to enjoy…and share
the antics of your mind & family through the delights of Sheep to the Right and all the other responsibilities you have writing here and there…I don't know how
your Shepherd mind gets any rest!
Enjoyed A REALIZATION but not this part 1 stuff…I'm not sure I ever finished the last one you did this way…at least I can't remember how it ended…God bless your weekend!!
I love that “The Dream Giver” was the book you were reading. That author is popping up in my life in multiple ways right now. I’m going to check that book out asap.
Can’t wait to read more.
Girl, you have the right dream, cause you have the gift of writing, that I know for sure!
I love that He gives us dreams! I love that He places passions within us that He can use to glorify His name. This post and so many other places I keep hearing about having dreams and having a vision. I need to be in prayer more that God would reveal to me what He has placed inside of me and what He wants me to do with my life for Him.
Isn’t it awesome to stop and think that He can actually do exceedingly and abundantly above all that you or I can ask for or think of, Carol, and He can do it through us? Let’s believe Him together that we can be mighty instruments in His hands for His glory!
I love you, friend! And I can’t wait to read part 2!
Kimberly
Within the safety of my room, I could read the words aloud and even throw in an English accent with a Southern twist.
I loved that!
Okay, got to get to part 2! 🙂