I have a ephinay for you.
LIFE ISN'T PERFECT.
I know.. shocker!
Writer's block catches up with us.
Agents reject us.
Editors ignore us.
Reviewers all but spit on our books.
The flu infects our house.
Kids get sick.
Babies are born with only half of a heart.
People die.
Are you depressed yet?
The thing is, bad things happen. In our writing life, and in real life. And just because we are followers of Jesus, doesn't make us immune. We live in an imperfect world where sin abounds and crappy things happen.
But good things happen too.
Words flow onto the page.
Agents ask for our phone number.
Editors drool over our proposal.
Reviewers sing praises in suprano.
The flu shot was invented.
Kids get better and go back to school. (Can I get an amen???)
Babies are born healthy.
People live the life God has given them to the fullest.
So here is to focusing on the good things today. To thanking God for his blessings. To learning from the not-so-fun things so we can do that last thing on the "good" list...
What are YOU doing to live your life to the fullest today?
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20 comments:
You are so right, Krista. No matter what, we serve a great big God who gave us life to serve and praise Him. Today I doing something to celebrate 26 years of marriage to my husband. There have been good time and not-so-good times, but he is a blessing from God!
Oops. It seems I’ve been labouring under the misapprehension that this was a writing site rather than a magical-being-in the-sky site.
So we live in an imperfect world, do we? Would that be the same world that your omnipotent and perfect god created? A world where sin abounds and so babies die? Babies whose only sin could be to be born in the wrong place or to the wrong parents? (Mind you, we are talking about a god who once drowned his entire family). Do you religious people ever listen to your own contradictive propaganda?
So here’s an Epiphany (rather than an ephinay) for you. There is no god. If there was, surely he would have spoken to you and suggested you use a spell checker if you wish to be a writer.
Bye bye.
Kevin, your post made me smile this morning. THANK YOU!
First, I did see that this morning, my stupid miss-spelling. It too, for some odd reason, made me smile. I wrote this post very fast the other day... while I'm in the hospital with my own baby who we were just told yesterday will probably need a heart transplant or she will die, and living with a heart transplant is questionable for her too.
I have so many things I could say to your viewpoint, but I don't believe you are ready to hear them, so I won't. Just know that I'll agree to disagree with you, and that you are more than welcome back on our writing site. We do post a ton of stuff about the publishing world, but we are all Christians, and focus on the inspirational market, so posts that include our belief in God is appropriate to our content.
And just for fun... I'm not even gonna go correct my misspelling. It just underlines the fact that I'm very imperfect too!
Great post, Krista.
Romans 8:28 has been a big comfort to me lately in reminding me that nothing happens without a purpose.
To live without the knowledge that there is a bigger Author involved in the minute details of our existence is a frightening thing. Meaning? We have loads of meaning in our lives...down to the tiniest breath.
Because of our faith, life has meaning...and so does death.
Thanks for the reminder. I wrote a post recently on my personal blog about only seeing a very small piece of God's eternal picture. It was good for me to keep that perspective.
http://pepperbasham.wordpress.com/2011/01/02/3340/
Krista,
I'm going to take this moment to tell you what an inspiration you've been. I've been quietly watching you go through this with your daughter. And I'll be honest, I've been quiet because I feel things so deeply. My heart hurts to watch you go through this, but your hope and beautiful endurance is such a remarkable witness. My heart hurts for others as well, those who can't see or are unwilling to see—those who at this moment have their eyes sealed shut.
What am I doing to live my life to the fullest? I’m going to dance with my kids, visit with a friend, write 1K, and encourage where and when it’s needed.
Much love,
Wendy
Krista, What beautiful words. You know why? Because you've LIVED them.
Right now I'm sitting on the couch with my son, watching the snow fall out of the sky, embracing the reminder that no two snowflakes or human beings are alike. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Krista, Wendy said it so perfectly. Words seem trivalous when you try to comfort someone. And it seems that though it should be the best ointment, prayer seems like a poor bandaid promise to give someone at times. When this is all over Krista and you are brought to the other side, I do believe God is going to show you the lives you have touched through this.
Myself included.
I plan to complete all the little details that always seem to get in my way, and praise God while doing it that He has given me the time and willingness to complete it all. Then I'm going to make cookies for my family.
I love you!!
I am a father. I cannot begin to imagine what it could be like to have a child dangerously ill and my heart goes out to you. It makes my comment seem ill-spirited, but at the time I was a little annoyed that the subject of writing had apparently been hijacked by preaching something that I will never believe in. I would not have been so controversial had I known your plight and I would not have been quite so sarcastic. I was aiming at humour, but it now seems as inappropriate to subject you to my cynicism, as it would be to beat a defenceless child. If your faith helps you deal with your situation then I would never attempt to take that away from you. I just wish your god kept his promises and answered prayers.
You sound nice, and I wish you well and hope your baby responds well to whatever medicine can offer. Sorry if I offended you at such an unfortunate time, because even atheists have feelings and not through fearing the wrath of a god, but out of pure humanity. :-)
Kevin,
very kind of you to reply to Krista.
I'm sure she took it well. Just as I'm sure you are used to criticism with your belief system, mature Christians are used to it with ours too.
And we do post on writing - but there are times when we post on other things.
We're thankful for your choice to respond in such a kind manner.
I really appreciate the comments today.
Kevin, I believe empathy is a great quality for a writer, something you definitely showed here when you came back to comment to Krista.
Krista, as I keep you in prayer I am filled with a sense of awe at how the Lord has worked through you. I truly believe as Casey says someday you will see the results of your faithfulness through this. Thank you for being a living testimony to all of us throughout this!
Krista, one of the many things I love about you is that you can see the good in the midst of the not-so-good. I also admire your graciousness and ready sense of humor.
I hope and pray you receive some good news soon.
I've been sick all week--dealing with vertigo. Not on my scheduled TO DO list at all. But, even in the midst of my world spinning out of control (literally and figuratively) I focused on my word for the year: HOPE. And I heard the words, "My HOPE is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righetousness . . ."
It was enough to keep me going.
Amen, amen, AMEN!
Prayers to you, Krista. I have certainty you will be blessed for your willingness to let God take you through this. Prayers, too, for your daughter and family. I know she's even more precious to Him than she is to you. I can't imagine what you must be feeling.
God bless. He hears, and answers.
I think this is a great post that reminds me life and writing are intertwined. We cannot separate ourselves and our writing, because then our words would be without heart and wouldn't resonate with real, live people. Thanks for this great reminder, Krista, to count our blessings and not let all the crap bring us down!
Krista,
I agree, Wendy says it so very well.
About seven years ago I went through some heartaches and testing of my faith when my child of 8 months began testing for reasons as to why she kept getting sick couldn't do the things that other children could do. I'm not comparing our situations, but you're right "Life isn't perfect". There is NO WAY I could have gotten through that time or even through each day now without God's strength and wisdom. Blessings and much prayer to you and your family.
Thanks everyone!!!
Kevin, no prob bob:-) You don't know a lot about me, but please do know that I have a GREAT sense of humor. (or at least I try... I've also been told those who think they are funny... probably aren't, so I should probably remember that myself, HA!) Anyway, my faith DOES get me through this, but know that I could have faith in a toilet and it would do me very little good because the toilet can't get me through much in life (although...please don't take that analogy too literally... ahem.) Please just know that we are totally "good" and no apology or explanation is needed. Just don't mind me praying that God comes after you and shows you a bit of his awesome power too:-) (Yes, I know you just rolled your eyes... Krista is big girl... she can take it!!!)
Beth, praying for you! HOPE is an AWESOME word and ranks right up there behind Love and in front of Faith!
Aimee, thank you SO much for your thoughts! Really appreciate it!!
MaDonna... It doesn't matter the trial, when our babies are suffering and something is wrong, it pierces a Momma's heart. YEAH for you for holding on to Jesus during this time as well! Take it one day at a time.. that's all we can do:-)
Alley-cats... I won't respond to each of you. You know I LOVE you and love your comments, thoughts and prayers. YOU ARE THE BEST! You all DO live life to its fullest, and I'm privileged to be able to be even a small witness to it!
Krista, thank you for this post (and your gracious responses to comments)--honest, vulnerable . . . truly inspirational. You are a blessing to so many. My prayers continue for you and your family. I do so believe that HOPE is an incredible medicine.
Kevin, this world was created perfect until sin was set free and the enemy created a counter attack to break down the perfect world. If we had no trials we would never be able to appreciate the victories around us...we would take them for granted. When I was married and wealthy, I had no idea of the plight of the homeless...nor did I appreciate all that I had. Now that I have been homeless and seen the hurting, I appreciate everything I have. More than that, when my children and I were recently facing homeless after I lost my job, and Christmas was looming, it was Krista's encouraging words of faith while spending days in the NICU watching her daughter fight for her life, that reminded me how blessed I really am...we have our health and our love for each other. We spent Christmas collecting clothes and food for the homeless without shelters and were very touched this year. I have seen numerous miracles in the last year resulting from prayer. MIRACLES like unexplained healings, and money arriving without a reason (as in my case, and we have a beautiful home as a result). I was an atheist once also...because God had allowed me to experience some difficult lessons that left me hurt and angry and I reasoned that He made no sense. The Holy Spirit spoke to me one day and simple said, "Come Home", and my life has never been the same. You did not come to this sight by accident, nor did you react so strongly if it had not touched you in a raw spot you thought you had protected. It wasn't an accident that your post was to Krista, she is a very strong young woman who has been called to reach others through her experiences. She knows CRAP, and she also knows faith...and she expresses herself well. There is no spell check on this so I am sure I have offended you as well with my spelling. But Krista has probably not slept in 5 or 6 months, since her sweet Annabelle was born...and she has managed to keep her sense of humor, and her sanity, as she shares from her heart to yours. Don't be like the man whose mind was like concrete...thoroughly mixed and completely set, but in the wrong foundation. From my heart, Cheri Horgan
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