One of our granddaughters used to greet random people with a question. “Will you be my friend?”
She just wanted to be sure. One can’t have too many friends. Whether we know them or not.
So, our daughter messed with her one afternoon. “Am I your friend?”
Gracie looked aghast. As aghast as a six-year-old can look. “Why would you ask me that? You know you’re my friend. I love you. I love everybody.”
One thing I’m learning after all these years. I am as loved as I allow myself to be.
Sure, human love is pretty flawed. It carries our own agenda, our own history and of course, our own baggage. Looking for perfection in it is a lost cause.
Hurt can fester and grow under the surface like a raging monster. Like an anaconda lurking beneath the surface, regret and dashed dreams can morph into jealousy, anger, and all kinds of nasty biters.
An unseen torment fuels that mess. Its name is Accusation.
We may be so used to agreeing with its lies, we’re not even aware that an enemy is intent on destroying us.
It sounds like this. “You messed up. Again. Can’t you ever get it right?”
Not only are we accused without help, without hope, but we are cast away. A reject. Trash on the side of the road.
That’s not a God thought.
He reminds us of truth. “I have this. Don’t turn on yourself. Don’t turn on others. You’ll only end up agreeing with a lie.”
Creativity is a sensitive friend. Its hopes can be dashed in so many ways.
I need to be its guardian, to stand in the gap. “Keep creating. Never stop believing there are masterpieces inside – just waiting to come out on the page.”
You’re a creative in all sorts of ways. You restore beauty in broken places and often, in broken people. You persevere, even when you’re tired.
This is all about the power of patience to win over discouragement – which is exactly what we’ll explore as creatives at the Experience Writing Conference, June 29 & 30 at Asbury Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Join us if you can! I’d love to see you~
Write Your Heart Out
If you enjoyed this blog post, be sure to look for our “Patience for the Writer’s Journey” video sessions from this year’s Experience Writing Conference! The videos are completely free. (Just put “0” in the “Name a fair price…” field!)
Also check out the accompanying small group workbook in our Experience Writing store!
About Laurel Thomas
“A former high school English teacher, Laurel loves words and their power to convey remarkable stories.
“She’s written for inspirational magazines including Guideposts and Mysterious Ways, as well as ghosted nonfiction. Her novel ”River’s Call” was published by Wild Rose Press and boasts five-star reviews on Amazon!” – Write Your Heart Out!
Laurel hosts a free weekly writers round table and has critique group and one-on-one options if you want to go deeper!
You can meet her at www.writewithlaurel.com!
