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Friends For The Journey
My friend and I went for a morning jog the other day and I was discouraged because of the lack of progress on my writing
journey. Its not where I planned to be by this time. Like miles away!
And
if you didn’t know, planning should be my middle name. Yep, my parents
should have named me Alena “Planner” Auguste.
Seriously.
When I get this way, I remember King David.
Check
out Psalm 42:5, King James Version, where King David asks himself,
“Why
art thou cast down, O my soul?”
When
he needed a friend, God gave him Jonathan.
What
do we do when we ourselves, or our friends are discouraged?
My
friends always seem to get a nudge to
help me back on the write track (pun intended).
I’ve
been traveling, so it took a little bit for an email, from one of my mentors to
catch up to me, but when it did I had to sit and read it over and over.
Psalm
37:34 “Don't be impatient for the Lord to act. Travel steadily along His path.
He will honor you, giving you the land.”
It
was the reminder, I needed. Keep going.
God
is faithful.
He’s
kind enough to give me friends and mentors who stand on the sidelines not
allowing me to stop, but encourage me to keep going. Helping me to press on
towards the finish.
Most
of all, remember as you run this race, He is right beside you. Whether
you are crawling, walking, running or sprinting towards the finish. The
greatest friend of all is right beside you.
By
the way, my friend Diane and I finished our run that day, despite almost 100
degree weather, stifling humidity and rolling hills. Step by step, we
finished. Together.
How
about you? How do you help your friends stay encouraged?
Blessings,
Alena Tauriainen
Alena - I've been thinking about you since ACFW and can't wait to reconnect. I'm deep in the middle of edits, but when I come up for air we should chat. You'll be at Storycrafter's in two weeks, right? Thanks for this reminder that we're taking this journey one step at a time - with friends - it makes it all the more fun. :)
ReplyDeleteWithout my writig friends, writing would be a hard row to hoe. When my husband decided to make a garden, he thought 100 foot rows would be great. Don't know if you've ever looked down a 100 foot row or not, but it's a long way to the end on a hot summer day. But when he came alongside me, it was much easier. That's what my writing friends do...come along side and encourage, prod, push...
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Alena!
Great post, Alena. They say this writing journey is a solitary endeavor, but I disagree. I can't imagine getting very far along it without the encouragement of friends. And being able to encourage others in their turn.
ReplyDeleteLoved your reference to Psalm 37:34--“Don't be impatient for the Lord to act. Travel steadily along His path. He will honor you, giving you the land.”
I think I need to make this my writing life verse. Speaking of encouraging, you're one of the best at that.
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletePat,
My stepmom is a bountiful gardener. She has an amazing green thumb. I can't imagine spending that much time out in the garden but she does it steadily and loves it. Me, I'll stick to indoor stuff but without my friends encouraging me, well I'd be woefully behind.
ReplyDeleteJeanne,
Psalm 37 is one of my favorites. I was never one of the outgoing kids or the fastest at stuff but God gave me peace one day. He showed me steady plodding (or plotting..hehe) brings success.
Blessings my friends!
Alena T.
Gabrielle -- I can't wait to see you at Storycrafters. Let's plan on visiting! Yes, any journey with friends is so much more fun. I'm a weird female in that I don't like to go shopping, but if I'm shopping with friends its not so bad. :) Lol..I keep telling my hubby how blessed he is because of this. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alena. Your outstanding sons & nephew seen at ACFW are also testimony of your part in producing excellence. Writing friends? Yes, some of the best I've found anywhere to encourage us in the way, sometimes to give us better running shoes, and even go ahead and knock boulders out of the way. Thankfully, by sharing and praying, we become better able to do that for others and we all run faster, reaching our destination sooner.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful for my writing friends, you included!
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing like an accountability friend who asks, "what did you write today"!
ReplyDeleteDee -- Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteYes, I've got my running shoes on!
Thanks Roxanne!
ReplyDeleteTerri.
ReplyDeleteYou are not joking. When I get those text questions, it really spurs me on. I'm always careful when I ask someone to keep me accountable because my closest friends will not accept excuses. They only accept results.
I totally understand. I feel that way from time to time. Writing is lonely at times. But I know God gave this to me and he is bringing people around me to help me along the way.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for my writing friends. Who else can understand the voices?
Great post :)
G....My kids get it too. My youngest asked me if the voices were talking to me! lol.
ReplyDeleteLate in replying, but you present such truth, Alena. I love how God is always faithful, even when I'm not.
ReplyDeleteMy friends are such an incredible part of my writing tribe. I can't imagine this career without them. I'm so blessed and incredibly grateful.