I have enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. Growing up before the internet, I wrote hundreds of letters to pen pals, cousins who moved from country to country and friends I met at church camp. I was that kid in school who eagerly anticipated the next writing assignment. I dreamed of writing books full of poetry, stories and helpful ideas; I just didn’t know how to make those dreams a reality. So, when I entered the adult world, I decided to focus on other passions like becoming a wife, mother, cosmetologist, Sunday school teacher and volunteer. I even ended up on staff at a church somehow.
Although I have found great satisfaction in life no matter which one of those hats I happened to be wearing, I have always found ways to incorporate writing. As an adult, I have written letters to friends who moved away. I have made sentimental cards for my children and family. I have written lessons for my Sunday school students and even created a family devotional book in a 3-ring binder for them. As a volunteer, God has given me words to stir the hearts of others. I have even found ways to write in all the different roles I’ve had since being on church staff. Whatever my main job is, I always find a way to include my passion to write!
Another avenue I have found to feed my crave for writing is social media. I created a Facebook account nine years ago for the sole purpose of viewing some pictures a friend wanted me to see. I slowly eased into adding my own pictures and silly little posts. Then after a while, I began posting longer thoughts that came to me. I had found another outlet for my passion, and my friends encouraged me to continue. Some of them even suggested that I should write a book or start a blog.
I am not a confident person, but I do love to write. So, last year, I spent hours of googling information, watching YouTube videos and praying. Then one year ago today, I started a new adventure. On March 12, 2017 I became the proud owner of my own domain name and signed a contract with a web hosting company in hopes of building my own website and starting a blog. I didn’t understand a lot of the terminology and had no idea what I was doing. To be quite honest, I still don’t understand much about it. Yet somehow, things are up and running.
My website still needs a lot of improvement but has been working well enough to get my words out there into the cyber world. Today, I celebrate my 52nd consecutive week of publishing blog posts. There were weeks that I had no idea what to write and weeks when I was too tired to think, but I have consistently posted on every Monday except for one week in November. I waited until Tuesday that week so that I could post on the day my husband and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary. In addition to the Monday posts, I was even able to post daily through Advent.
Today I publish my 75th blog post. Over the past 52 weeks, I have written 49,000 words that have received views from 16 different countries. While a total of 3,216 views and 1837 visitors really isn’t a huge amount, it is pleasing to this woman who was scared that no one would be interested in what she had to say. My stats are fairly small, but I am content to know that each and every week, someone out there has read the words that I have faithfully posted.
This brings me to why I write. Besides the fact that I really enjoy letting my thoughts flow through my fingertips, I write because I want to encourage others. I want others to know that there is light in the darkness, that there is always hope and that there is a God who has been with me through my whole journey. My greatest pleasures as a writer, are the moments when God chooses to use me as his vessel to write the words that someone else needs to hear. Isn’t that what he created us for?
Whatever we do, it’s not about us. It’s about the One who knit us together in our mothers’ wombs, giving us passions, gifts and talents to use for his glory. We find our purpose when we take what God has given us and allow him to work through us to show others how awesome he is, how much he loves them and how much they need him.
I published that first post, “A Season of Gray Hairs and Discipline,” back on March 20, 2017 with the attitude that even if no one read the words, I would have spent time writing with God and allowing him to transform me through our time together. I write each week for God and the hope of inspiring others to spend more time working on their relationship with him as well.
Thank you to those of you who take the time to read “Through Every Season” and those who have subscribed to receive my posts. Thank you to those who have encouraged me and challenged me and given me the nudges I needed. Thanks for the feedback and for sharing the posts that speak to you. I don’t like to bring attention to myself but always hope to find ways to bring attention the One who is worthy. It’s all for him.