As I thought about writing this post for the blog chain at ChristianWriters.com I pondered how to use the word savor. Should I write an exciting post about savoring my favorite foods, or express the joys I experience when I have a particularly good day? Perhaps, sharing the wonders of savoring my relationship with Jesus Christ would make an apropos post. But, as the day drew near for this post, the Lord impressed upon my heart to write something I, at first, did not care to share.
Defining savor as a verb I noticed that it’s, “to give oneself to the enjoyment of: to savor the best in life.” ~Dictionary.com
With that thought in mind, I write about a time in my life wherein circumstances forced me to learn to savor time lost writing. I hope that this post, in some small way, encourages, not only writers but all who read it.
Discouragement is a word we writers well know. Often we work late into the night, greeting the lonely dawn with weary eyes. Long nights of writing are very often my closest friend. During the past years having a family to care for, I found it difficult to set a regular writing routine, so I carved bits of time from my days to write. My writing is a ministry, more than a career. God has called me to write, you see. He has led me to implement this ministry in such a way that I hold the freedom to publish at my own pace. At this point in time, God hasn’t called me to make a living off of my writing, so this writing schedule worked fine for me.
But I did write. And I looked forward to the times when I sequestered myself alone in my tiny writing area and simply created. During the times I wrote I was adamant that the time was about me and my writing. I knew that was an entirely selfish outlook, but I wanted to write. Whenever I suffered interruptions, I felt great annoyance.
Then the day came when my father-in-law told us that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer, and with treatment, the doctors offered him only five more years of life.My family’s world ceased to exist as it once had, for we all lived and worked closely together on the family farm.
My life and my writing suffered a great and unexpected interruption.
My family focused solely on my father-in-law and how best to—we hoped—bring him through the cancer so he might enjoy an even longer life. Days were spent in doctor’s visits, tests, surgeries, terrible illness, well anyone who knows, knows. Cancer is a devastation of body, mind and often soul.
Admittedly, I tried to write some during the two years my father-in-law lived with the cancer, but with the constant worry about his health, added chores and interruptions, I found it difficult, so I made the decision to simply lie my writing aside and concentrate wholly on my father-in-law. I even had a major project go unfinished, but it seemed insignificant in the light of my father-in-law’s needs. With the decision to temporarily stop writing something in me changed. I thought I was helping him by giving of myself. Little did I know that he would help me. I began to savor my time with him, to savor each moment of life altogether. I was daily reminded of a basic Christian truth. Even when life’s circumstances overwhelm us with seemingly impossible situations, God has not left our side.
God tells us in the book of Hebrews in His precious Word that he will never leave us or forsake us.
He also says that, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ~New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
Since my father-in-law’s death in December of 2011, I began, slowly at first, now with more rapidity, to write again. But I think of my father-in-law often and all that he taught me both during his life and through his dying. I now, gladly say, I thank God for that two-year hiatus from my writing, not because my father-in-law was ill and died. Never! But because, I learned to remind myself that even when my life doesn’t work according to my plan, I should never waste time longing for what I cannot or do not have. I ought to savor every part of my life.
Thank you, dear father-in-law, for sharing your life with us. He danced through life with a smile. We miss him dearly and look forward to our reunion in heaven.
Have you ever taken an unexpected hiatus from writing? Did you resent the time or learn to savor it?
Bible Text:
Hebrews 13:5-6
5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
~King James Version
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
~New International Version (NIV)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
~King James Version
Blessings,
Stephanie Boles
Author of the Called to His Purpose series
Writing is my ministry, not my job
3/1: Chris Henderson, TheWriteChris
3/2: Bill Jones, I Was Thinking the Other Day About
3/3: Mike Johnson, The College Field Manual
3/4: Scott Fields, Dead Man Writing
3/5: Lynn Mosher, Heading Home
3/6: Chris Vonada, I'm Just Thinkin'
3/7: Carol Peterson, From Carol's Quill
3/8: Jacky Brown, JayBees Blog
3/9: Tracy Krauss, Expression Express
3/10: Steve Olar, Snickerdoodles
3/11: Cindee Snider Re, Breathe Deeply
3/12: Terrie Thorpe, Light for the Journey
3/13: Nona King, Spirit Driven Fiction
3/14: Edward Lewis, Sowing the Seeds
3/15: Pegg Thomas, The Sheepish Scribe
3/16: Kristena Tunstall, Mommy’s Angel In Heaven
3/17: Debra Ann Elliott, Words are Timeless
3/18: Adam Collings, The Collings Zone
3/21: Victor Travison, Lightwalker's View
3/22: Samuel R. Choy, Samuel R. Choy
3/23: Nona King, Word Obsession
3/24: Deborah K. Anderson, target="_blank">Faith, Fiction, and Unvarnished Truth
3/25: Pauline Creeden, Hosanna's Christian Reader
3/26: Joseph Lalonde, Joseph Lalonde
3/27: Stephanie Boles, 80 Acres and a Book
3/28: Carol Peterson, From Carol's Quill3/30: Traci Bonney, Tracings
I've never taken an extended hiatus, so to speak, but do tend to write in spurts, depending on what else is going on in my life. My own father is battling cancer right now, so I can relate to this post in that regard, too.
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring story Stephanie, thanks for sharing this! Sometimes when I take a break from writing, even for a short period of time, I find God has placed something more important in my life... and, from that experience, I learn and grow. In that regard, the detour is refreshing and, as you've shown, "savory" too!
ReplyDeleteI can identify with just about everything you said, Steph. I've had my "dry moments" when I didn't write much of anything. Developing stories has also been on hold for years at a time. But eventually I got back to it, and I'm not sorry.
ReplyDeleteSometimes a bout with depression will keep me off my word processor. Sometimes it's the busyness of life. Sometimes I feel discouraged, just as you said; I'd wonder, "Is anybody really interested in what I say?"
I've also lost a person close to me, due to cancer. My stepfather passed on to Heaven in September, 2010, just two or three days before his 83rd birthday. I know exactly what you went through with your father-in-law.
God's greatest blessings to you and your family.
~ VT
Sorry to hear about your father-in-law's passing. May God shine perpetual light upon his soul. When it comes to writing, I try to keep to a tight schedule. So far, thank God, nothing has intruded to stop me. If it ever does, I hope I can handle it with the same grace and aplomb that you did.
ReplyDeletePeace and Blessings
Thank you so much for this post, Stephanie. I took a similar hiatus when both my mother-in-law and father grew ill and died between January and December of the same year. My writing became richer because my faith became stronger during that time.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. While cancer is a terrible thing to go through for the whole family, it is often - strangely enough - a catalyst that brings the family together. God gives us a silver lining amidst the clouds.
ReplyDeleteI love how you tied in Romans 8:28. Yes, we can savor the stopovers or sideroads in life, because we can completely trust our Guide.
ReplyDeleteStephanie thank you for sharing your heart and your trial. The Lord is always there in all our circumstances- He never leaves but gives us the courage to continue on.
ReplyDeleteI've had several Hiatus in my writing over the years-mostly because of my focus was on me and not on my mission. The Lord always encourages my writing and inspires my words, gently reminding me this is my purpose-I am so humbled and honored by my assignment. Peace & Blessings to you and your ministry.
Thank you, all for your kind and encouraging words. I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in my writing journey. I guess we all are similar in more ways than we know. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteStephanie,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the openess of your heart so much more today than yesterday & I am certain I will appreciate it more tomorrow than today.
You, little sister, have taught me much about life, love and forgiveness in recent years.
I have no doubt that God shines his light on you every moment of the day.
I love you.
Beautiful post, Stephanie. Like you, I've been through the same with family members of my own. And like you, I have no regrets. The time spent with them was more important.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest sympathy for your loss.
Stephanie,
ReplyDeletePhenomenal Post! This totally spoke to me, I'm in a writing pause and I don't know how long it will last. This is a great reminder to have the correct perspective on what we are doing with our writing.
Again, thank you all for the kind words. I'm thankful that my post touched hearts. God is good even when we suffer through difficult times.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks "Nana", my big sis. LOl! You're the best sister any gal could ask for.
Blessings
Thank you so much for sharing your personal journey.
ReplyDeleteSuch a compelling article. Thank you SO MUCH for offering up this peek into your life as a writer. What a blessing, though bittersweet, to have as part of your life's memories because God will be able to utilize this pain as a blessing to others.
ReplyDeleteI also took a hiatus from writing starting in Q4 of 2005, for this was when I began dating my now-husband. It was the first time that I had a love interest where the feeling was mutual. The hubs, we'll call him 'M' [with fondness] encompassed my first hand-hold, my first kiss, my first boyfriend, and so many other firsts. If I had not taken a hiatus from my writing, like you, I would not have been able to fully experience the joy of life which God laid out before me.
Now my writing is more full, and the joy that comes from it is more sweet. :)
When my sister-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer, I started writing her a daily devotional. That is what started me writing inspirational pieces which I still do 5 yrs later.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, thanks for sharing part of your story with us. It's difficult when we feel the need to lay aside our dreams and pursuits to care for and serve others, but it's always rewarding.
ReplyDeleteI did walk away from writing for a while, leaving a career as a newspaper reporter to pursue first a teaching position, then an office job that took me to South America. But even then, I never entirely quit putting words on paper. God used that time in my life to re-awaken my love for poetry, something I'd neglected while writing news articles and a personal opinion column for a paycheck.
It's wonderful to be paid for our writing, but if we lose sight of our love for the art and craft of it, we lost part of our soul, I think. My time in Venezuela re-ignited something in me that had been smoldering too long. I'm grateful to God for that.
It sounds like your father-in-law was a special man and that he is missed. It's great that you were able to savour that time with him, rather than wishing for other things.
ReplyDeleteI guess this year has been a dry time for my writing. My work has sapped me of all energy so I've done very little - but I have savoured that little.