“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
What gets you out of bed on a lazy, rainy morning to brave a day of errands? What keeps you going when nothing you’ve planned is working out? When your kids are defiant and your husband just doesn’t ‘get you’ and you’re friends, well, are only online?
If you’ve been reading my posts and following my writing journey, you know it’s been an up hill battle. I write and study and attend writer’s conferences and write some more and get rejections. Then I start the process all over again. But what keeps me writing even when I say for the millionth time I’m going to quit are the little encouragements along the way.
The other morning had a nice chat with my agent. He’s been working hard to sell my two stories and while there’s been a positive response to my writing, the stories haven’t been fits so far. After reworking one of them, we’re still hopeful and I’m looking to see if I can add a new thread to the shorter one. In the meantime, I started working on another story, and I shared with him several other ideas I had. He said two of them had great premises.
Did you catch it? A little bit of encouragement along the way. That little comment from my agent was enough to to keep me going, keep me writing, even through the hard times.
What nuggets of encouragement can you find today? They’re there i you look. From my own life the last month this is encouragement I cherish in my heart:
My oldest son gave me a rare, out of the blue compliment about something random.
My third son wrote a sweet note to his sister after a day of bickering with her.
My husband brought home a floor fan from Walmart because he was thinking of me (and our lack of ceiling fans in the house.)
A best selling author offered her advice and help with a story I’m working on.
And my darling daughter never fails to tell me at least once a day “I just love you so much, I can’t help it!”
A little encouragement a long the way! Whether it comes from family and friends, or the word of God. You can find it, if you look close enough!