“If God has given you a dream, tuck that away in your heart. Write it down. Collect mementos that help you remember His calling (cards from others, emails, words spoken over you) so that when that calling is tested, you will persevere …” ~ Mary DeMuth, Live Uncaged
It’s not official but I might have some melancholy chromosome. You know the symptoms – general writing malaise, depression, self-doubt. Of course, I’m kidding about the chromosome but the past couple years left me pretty anemic in the writing department.
Disappointment and heartache will do that.
So will lack of encouragement when you need it most.
One early morning I peered out a sleepy eye, slapped my pillow, and let out a deep moan. Something’s gotta give, I thought. Fed up with the aching status quo, I knew as soon as my feet hit the floor that day I’d have to make a change. I’d neglected my blog/writing/journal so long, though, I wasn’t sure how to find my way back.
But I found a letter. Not just any letter – words penned in longhand from a friend who recognized and affirmed my calling. Re-reading her kind words from two decades ago was like having fresh soil turned over in my soul, ready for planting. Through her words, God reminded me of the writing seed He long ago planted.
So to heck with chromosomes.
The lovely thing about friends who resonate with the way we’re wired is how they eagerly affirm our gifts and calling. Others won’t be so ready with encouragement. Some may devalue the very way we’re made because they feel threatened by our nerve to write. That’s okay.
Find your voice anyway.
Dust off those dreams.
Kick passivity to the curb and write what’s on your heart.
‘Cause that’s how you’re wired, baby. ♥
I can’t tell you how much this resonates with me. Write on, dear friend.
Lisa, thank you SO much. Glad something resonated…xoxo
And a big hearty AMEN!!! Beginning to feel the itch
)) Thanks for the kick/encouragement – lol!
Leti, hope I didn’t kick too hard…lol….love ya!
Dear Vicki,
You are so right in dusting off your dreams and make them come true.
Our most famous author Henrik Ibsen let one of his characters say, “I got the gift of sorrow, so I became a skald.”
I think that we both can turn our sorrow chromosome, also named sensitivity, to work for us. How can a shallow, happy go lucky person even bother to sit down, turn his light inwards looking for relieving words.
I have to admit that when life is really dark, I’m looking for stars and prefer writing about them. That is my choice.
Nevertheless I try always to be honest in my writing and in dealing with other people.
If God has given you the gift of sorrow, use it as a torch to find the way home. They say that Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress in a dark jail.
Over my bed in my “maiden chamber”at my mother’s there’s written a word I got in my early teens on the wall.
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
(Hebr. 13:5)
When I these days wake up, wondering what the day will bring for me and mine, and want to hide my head under the pillow from fear and exhaustion, I have more than once read those words and felt the strength of walking on promises. I cannot walk alone, not a single pace.
Now, I’m looking forwards to reading more from Vicki’s progress. Feel blessed, because you are blessed. Yours Felisol
Felisol, this was deeply encouraging, my dear Norwegian friend. Why, you have the makings of a beautiful, heartfelt blog post – such poetic, thoughtful, healing words. Thank you for this. I do feel blessed! Hugs to you across the sea!
I see you have made Felisol’s acquaintance…she is a wonderful writer and artist….:) So nice to see you writing again sister. It is how you are wired!
Hi Cheryl! Thank you. Yes, I’ve known Felisol for several years now. Appreciate your visit! We should get together sometime when you’re not busy!
As soon as I get this wedding behind me…the family is in an uproar til then…tee hee….then we definitely should get together!
Oh yeah – weddings take all our energy. Been through THREE…hehe….when is the wedding?
Love you & your heart! Keep sharing, my friend!
“Cause that’s how you’re wired, baby!”
Thanks, Karla. I love your ministry at Empowering Christian Women. ( http://www.empoweringchristianwomen.com ).
Thanks Vicki!
Glad you are finding the resources helpful!
I too can relate to how you feel. Encouragement is few and far between. I have to constantly remind myself that I’m called and that’s why I do it. I feel unsupported by family and friends but push on in His strength and leading. Thanks for sharing your heart. Please keep writing because I love to read your words.
Julie, good to see you here. You *are* called, my friend. I’m completely familiar with lack of support among family and friends, then again, that’s why we (writers/creatives/artists) need to seek each other out. Hang in there, Julie – let’s encourage each other!
It’s difficult and I believe, impossible to truly encourage another unless one understands discouragement. How can one offer hope, if they’ve never experienced hopelessness? It’s what makes writing for encouragement that brings healing possible. It’s what brings the anointing because without it, the words are only words on a page. A heart recognizes when one writes from the heart as opposed to writing from the head. I believe you write from the heart. Writers are a different bunch. We feel things differently and uniquely. We feel it when we experience it and we feel it when we write what others want to say but can’t find the words to describe what it is they are feeling. They are lost without those words but find a treasure when they find them. Hope that made sense and encouraged you.
Well, it made perfect sense, Denise. Thank you so much! I think artists and writers are a colorful breed, with feelings that run deep. The world needs us, though:-) You’ve nailed it on the head, my friend. Thanks for such beautiful encouragement!
dear vicki..thanks for your kind comment of encouragement at my blog..i don’t know what chromosomes are.
all i know is that i have neglected my blogging too..it just seems so hard to keep up but i am going to try…i have missed so many birthday posts…even dear mom golden didn’t have one!…alas alas, although i love the sister’s facebook site to keep up with all the prayer requests, i find that i haven’t the strength sometimes to be a the computer as i was before…i missed your
“window to my soul” blog so much..quite often i would go there to read and find strength, but after reading this post here, and all of the friends commentw, maybe it will be good too dear friend, vicki!….all i can do is try, eh?…love terry
Terry, thanks for sharing that. Life has a way of interrupting the best laid plans but you have been a huge source of encouragement for me and so many others. Take it one day at a time – and thanks for the kind words about Windows to My Soul. I just couldn’t keep up with two blogs any longer but who knows – I may reopen the devotional blog again sometime. Thanks, Terry.
thanks vicki..you are a dear….windwows to my soul has so much of the bible that it will never grow old…i have had it on my side bar[excellent bible blogs] for a few years now along with
jessica….his scribbler – 2011
crown of beauty
dimple bible blog
andrea arise 2 write
grace notes
i really have to make more time to visit these godly blogs!….love terry
Terry, thank you so much.
Isn’t it wonderful to have a friend or friends who encourage you to be who God has made you to be? Those people are few and far between in life, but so cherished. There is a freedom to being able to be who you are. Thanks for this post, Victoria. Glad that you’re writing!
Thank you, Angela. It’s a mighty fine blessing, indeed. Thanks for visiting – love your blog.