“A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him, I may think aloud.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Our friendship was so assured that we could be silent without the slightest danger of offense.” ~ Sir Arthur Helps

“It is my joy in life to find at every turning of the road, the strong arms of a comrade kind to help me onward with my load; and since I have no gold to give, and love alone must make amends, my only prayer is, while I live - God make me worthy of my friends.” ~ Frank Dempster Sherman

“A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil - but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely.” ~ Pam Brown

“The greatest good you can do for another is not to just share your riches, but to reveal to him, his own.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Carl W. Buechner

“One key, I have learned, is not to keep from writing when you’re feeling down.” ~ Louise DeSalvo

My circadium rhythms clash with spring. Days are short; my nights too long. I’m up all hours, sad, restless - looking for creative clues. I open my laptop and google depression. I read about seasoned writers who train themselves to capture moments of inspiration yet mine has vanished. Determined to go after it “with a stick” I spend a couple fruitless hours pecking at the keyboard. Finally, I hit “delete” and go to bed.

Throwing off the morning covers, I drag myself to the kitchen teapot. I turn the nob on the gas stove, staring into the blue flame. Energy - I need it to write, to clean up the dishes, to pull out of this funk. Overwhelmed by the Ought-To demon, I let out a deep sigh. Soon I’m sipping plum tea, wondering if I can organize my attention-deficit into neat little compartments for the day. No, that won’t work. I take my tea to the table, turn to a bookmarked page in my bible, and read out loud:

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you…” (Isaiah 30:18).

But that’s it. I can’t see through the tears to read much more. I’m on overload and can’t “refresh.” The Lord nudges me to keep reading.

“He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it…’”(Isaiah 30:19-21).

Something washes over me. It’s Him - I know it. I pray, admit my need, give the day to Him, and relax about it. Eventually, I’m back at the keyboard, writing through my malaise.

This time I hit “save.” This time I have hope.

How often do we make excuses for our creativity?

“Oh, I wish this were better, but…”

“I’m not all that creative.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing…”

We try to shield ourselves from criticism by offering qualifiers.

According to Alice Bass, author of The Creative Life, “we wrap ourselves in a protective coating to keep from getting hurt, but our lovely layers are ridiculously transparent, like saran wrap.”

So true.

No need to qualify our “creative offerings.” Instead, we rest in the confidence that we’re His workmanship, created in advance to do good works, to shine as a reflection of His Spirit working through us as we abide in Christ Jesus, day to day.

Never feel embarrassed about something you’ve created. We’re all learning and growing.

“There are two things one should know about the direction of life. First is: Where am I going? Second is: Who will go with me?” ~ Elie Wiesel

“We are brave in the face of new experiences if we have a faithful friend to journey with us.” ~ unknown

“Into all lives, in many simple, familiar, homely ways, God infuses this element of joy from the surprises of life, which unexpectedly brighten our days, and fill our eyes with light.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.” ~ William Penn

It’s been a busy time at the Gaines cottage. Mr. G. and I’ve been dealing with cakes and cancer.

Cakes, because I love the world of confectionary artistry, taking full advantage of every birthday, baby shower, and family celebration to customize each individual cake. Cancer, because Mr. G. faces his second cancer diagnosis in two years; first scalp melanoma, now prostate cancer. Lots of doctor appointments, medical reading, research, blood work, scans, and updating family and friends these days. Don’t forget the cakes. Thus, the lull in posting.

But I’m back.

Has life interrupted your writing lately? How do you cope? We’re trusting God, taking one day at a time, and moving forward as much as the season allows.

Stay tuned for updates. I appreciate all the recent comments. Thank you so much for visiting!

“God may be invisible, but He’s in touch. You may not be able to see Him, but He is in control, and that includes you - your circumstances - that includes all of life - past, present, future.” ~ Chuck Swindoll

“How calmly may we commit ourselves to the hands of Him who bears up the world!” ~ Jean Paul Richter

“Seeing our Father in everything makes life one long thanksgiving and gives a rest of heart, and, more than that, a gayety of spirit, that is unspeakable.” ~ Hannah Whitall Smith

“God loves and cares for us, even to the least event and smallest need of life.” ~ Henry Edward Manning