And Another

Letters beget letters. This one shows God’s amazing mercy and love toward us, especially when we're struggling. If you're struggling as well, read this and take heart. God does see your hurts.

I can’t possibly take credit for the way He used my marketing project in this person's life. He’s just very efficient, that’s all--using one thing in different ways for different people. And He's so creatively surprising. After all, He did invent Surprise.

As always, letter used by permission.
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After reading Monday’s blog, I have to confess. I thought to comment on the blog, but there are some things I find too personal to share publicly.

These past few weeks have been a real struggle for me. For years I have fought to get time to write. Not because I am simply undisciplined, but because I have a spouse who does not support my writing dream, especially if it involves fiction. There’s a lot more to this, which I won’t go into, but it’s been a constant battle for years.

I’d made a commitment to send a few chapters to a freelance editor a few months back, hoping I would have the time to polish them before the scheduled date. I also made a new commitment to God a month back to make the time I needed to write, and right on cue, another obstacle was raised up before me. This time it almost crushed me. I said enough is enough. Writing is never going to happen, forget it. I'm not fighting any more. I even cancelled my booking with the editor.

But there was one problem.

Violet Dawn.

As you know, I had requested a copy, and after all the hassle of it arriving on time, then getting an electronic copy, plus a second copy in the mail, I finally read it. Since I had requested it, I felt I was committed to sending in an auditioning post. Even that, of course, was a struggle. I ended up writing the post on D-day—the closing day for the auditions.

Since I felt I didn't have any hope at all of securing a part, it was going to be my final jaunt into the world of writing. Being turned down by Brandilyn Collins would be the icing on the cake—my confirmation. Writing was not for me.

When Gayle sent out the e-mail saying the parts would be announced on your blog Monday, June 12th, I figured okay, didn’t make the cut. Surely they would have e-mailed the successful people beforehand. Monday came; time to get the misery over and done with. I booted up the computer.

Imagine my surprise when you announced on your blog that I was one of the chosen.

Okay, maybe I’m not supposed to give up writing. At least I am now committed to a post every once in a while for Scenes and Beans.

Instead of saying Brandilyn Collins deemed me a failure :), I can now say Brandilyn Collins kept me writing.

So, thank you. You have encouraged me to keep going. To keep fighting for the dream God has placed in my heart.

God is wonderful in His faithfulness. It seems just when I’m about to quit, when the fight becomes too much, He places another little grain of encouragement to keep me on this path.

Blessings, Brandilyn, and thank you once again.
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May God grant each of you His encouragement tailored just for you--just when you need it.