It is time for Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo and her writing community. We write for just five minutes without editing. It's like an impromptu speech, but it is impromptu blogging. This week the word is "writer." I think I went a minute or so over this week. So here is my Six Minute Friday.
I suppose I am a writer. It happened by accident really. I wrote about 12 papers per semester in college, but I never planned on writing being a big part of my life after college. I was too busy to sit still long enough to write. There were mountains to be hiked, ice to be skated on, snow to play in, children to teach and play with, crafts to be made, a husband to spend time with, and so much more. Sit down and write? Who had time for that?! I certainly didn’t. Until everything changed.
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I suppose I am a writer. It happened by accident really. I wrote about 12 papers per semester in college, but I never planned on writing being a big part of my life after college. I was too busy to sit still long enough to write. There were mountains to be hiked, ice to be skated on, snow to play in, children to teach and play with, crafts to be made, a husband to spend time with, and so much more. Sit down and write? Who had time for that?! I certainly didn’t. Until everything changed.
My energy levels dropped. My muscle strength declined. I could no longer be physically active in the way I once was. Instead I learned to be content with my quiet and slow-paced life at home. Eventually I realized that being content with my circumstances wasn’t enough. I needed to not just be content, but to embrace the life that God had given me. There were lessons to be learned and people to encourage, and God had placed me in a situation where I could do just that! If only I would start writing.
This desire to embrace the life that God had given me led to the creation of the Cranberry Tea Time website, which eventually turned into this blog! Maybe I couldn’t go out and play and teach and be active, but I could write and encourage others from home. I could share the hope of the Gospel. I could write for the glory of God. And in so doing, I could embrace the life He gave me.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to write here on Cranberry Tea Time! I never thought I would be a writer or a blogger. The first time I heard of a blog I thought it was crazy. Why would someone type up their thoughts and put them on the internet?! Ha! Yet here I am, writing. I write for you. I write for me. Most of all, I write for the Lord. May He be glorified!
What a joy it is to stop by here. There is a calm in your words that encourages me. That the still behind the computer is not a bad thing. It's a place where my thoughts, words, and God's heart can come together. Thankful I found your blog.
ReplyDeleteI love it! I kind of became an accidental writer as well. I realized 18 months into a job that what I started out doing had morphed into writing, and there I was loving it. I pray you will continue to grow in the life you have been given and I am thankful for women like you determined to encourage and make a difference for the kingdom.
ReplyDeleteAmen, my friend! I love this! (I wrote a Six minute Friday tonight too! It may have even been Seven because my family got chatty as soon as I started the timer!)
ReplyDeleteGod has plans for us we never imagined! He had a wonderful surprise for you! Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful testimony your blog is to what God can do with our pain and our struggles if we stop and let him. He is definitely using you and your writing to inspire and encourage others. Thank you for being such a beautiful vessel of his grace and his goodness.
ReplyDeleteSo glad I discovered your blog and your words through 5-minute Friday!
I feel like an 'accidental writer' sometimes too. While in college to be a case worker, I was recognized 'outstanding writer.' And I discovered that I actually liked my writing classes (and very much disliked my human services classes...) So in accidentally discovering the writer in me, I discovered more of Him working through me. It's been terrifying at times, but here we are... pressing into it and Him. Nice to visit your space :)
ReplyDeletehi rachel, i found you on FMF. i can identify with your times of being too busy to write! that was my life for a long time. i sat down to sew and do crafts, but never to write:)
ReplyDeletei too have a chronic illness, but it rarely shows. i am epileptic. during menopause, it rared its head big time. until then, i would have a break through seizure once every 7-10 years! during that 4 year period, i had seizures sometimes as often as once a week:( i had 4 years of no driving. it was awful! of course, i knew that might be the rest of my life! eventually, they found out it was a hormonol issue and adjusting them solved the problem almost overnite!
i do still quilt and create, but i creat more with words. i can't always think of the one i want, but that is ok. i have time to come up with it when i'm writing:)
my husband is also a pastor (now retired). blessings as you minister in your church and on your blog.
Thanks for stopping by, Arlene! I just read your recent post about the importance of writing our stories down. I appreciated the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement! It is great to hear from another accidental writer. :)
ReplyDeleteHooray for another Six Minute Friday writer! :) Last week I was interrupted three or four times. I think I kept my writing to five minutes, but it is hard to keep track of with all of the interruptions. Who thought that finding five quiet minutes could be so hard?! #surprisedbymotherhood :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! God did indeed have a wonderful surprise for me. His plans for my life are much better than any I could write.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, and thank you for your encouraging words!
ReplyDeleteIt's neat how God works things out like that! I'm so glad you became a writer!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging words today!
ReplyDeleteOh wow - I'm so glad you found a treatment option for the seizures! That must have been so hard to not be able to drive for 4 years. It is wonderful to hear from a fellow writer and pastor's wife. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteLearning to 'embrace the life that God had given me' is a real challenge, but it seems you are well on the way, despite the suffering and frustrations of your illness. Being hemmed in, whether it's through a physical condition, or other circumstances we can't control, can so often be a 'gift of focus' from God, if only we would have the eyes and willingness to see it. It's a privilege to meet you and hear some of your story today. through FMF.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same as you about blogs at first! What??! But, then it started to intrigue me, putting my "story" out on the internet. I've been blogging for two or so years. So, I think I am an accidental writer, too. Thanks for sharing your story!
ReplyDeleteIt is great to hear from another accidental writer! Thanks for sharing your story on the internet!
ReplyDeleteThis is BEAUTIFUL! Thank you so much for sharing. I've been inspired by Joni for so many years, long before I had physical limitations. Thank you.
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