“I’m going to miss you teaching us, Mrs. Fleiss.”
Monday will be the last day of my six-week, junior high history unit. One
of my students wrote those kind words in a short e-mail to me. I work hard at
teaching. I strive to create a loving environment where we all grow, learn, and
wrestle with the topics together. I stay up late, spend hours on my computer,
pray a lot…His word of appreciation eased my load, added to my joy.
He’s not a writer, but in that short e-mail, he had a writing
ministry.
I’ve been thinking about how to look at writing as an
opportunity to serve, aside from the obvious ways (like selling millions of
Christ-centered books). It occurred to me one way to honor God in this passion
of mine is to encourage others on the same road.
Our profession is an isolated one. We often sit and stare at words on a screen for more hours than those dear to us. Yet, our hearts, souls, and great desires are mixed up in this work we love—the work of words. How can we push through the isolation? The anxieties and triumphs?
Like my student-friend’s thoughtful note, a short word of
encouragement in an e-mail to a writing friend, a blog comment (hint hint), or
even a “like” on Facebook can help lift the
loneliness of writing. And when I reach out to hold up a friend, my load gets a little lighter--and joyful--too.
I need to do better at this. Do you?
Thank You, Lord, for your kindness to me. Help me to share it
with my writing friends.
So ... bless each of you who reads this. Remember the great love our Father has for you and rest in that love. Your dreams and desires are in His hands. He knows them and he knows your disappointment and fear. He is intimately acquainted with all your ways--and carries you through every path. Even when you fail and fall, his grace remains.
Ahh...
Ocieanna
