The women’s fiction series I’m writing? One of the themes is secrets. The funny thing is, I’m not a fan of secrets. I’m not saying I’ve never had secrets. I’m just saying I don’t like harboring them. If asked, I would say growing up has meant realizing how damaging secrets can be and recognizing the need to reveal them — in the …
In Others’ Words: Releasing Fear
You know how someone says something and their words just reverberate in your mind and heart for days afterward? That’s what happened to me this past Saturday when I attended a local writer’s group. Author (and friend) Cara Putman spoke to the group via Skype and early on she said, “Let go of the fear of being wrong.” Cara said …
In Others’ Words: The End and the Beginning
If we can search and find the beginning hidden in the ending … well then, the ending isn’t quite so painful. I’m facing an ending right now — an “everything is finished” kind of moment. God was gracious enough to give me a head’s up about it months ago, so I wasn’t caught off guard by it. But still, there …
In Others’ Words: Advise Me, Advise Me Not
It’s easier to give advice than it is to take advice, isn’t it? And then again, whether we take advice at all is often dependent on who is offering us their wisdom, right? Remember that T.V. ad that said, “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen?” As I recall, a room filled with people would fall silent and everyone would lean …
In Others’ Words: The God of Hope
My understanding of God has changed through the years, but one thing hasn’t changed: I know that God is a God of hope. Do I get discouraged at times? Yes. Do I struggle against God’s plan — sometimes when it’s clear and sometimes when it’s not? Yes. Do I sometimes call myself “Oh-me-of-little-faith”? Yes. But all that stuff about me …
In Others Words: The Art of Learning
Most everyone would agree that Michelangelo was a creative genius, the artisan who sculpted the Pietà and David before he was 30, and who also painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. But I never realized Michelangelo considered himself a learner. When you consider someone as talented … no, as gifted as Michelangelo, you assume the man knows what he’s doing, right? He must have …
In Others’ Words: In Praise of Others
My mother taught me how to compliment people. Not the “how to” so much as the “why.” I remember running errands with her when I was a young girl. Usually one of the errands was a stop at the grocery store. My mom always found a way to say something nice to the cashier or to someone else as we passed them …
In Others’ Words: Burying Yourself Alive
How would you define self-pity? We’ve all heard the quote about how harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person — the person we can’t forgive — to die. But what about self-pity — an overwhelming focus on your troubles? Sometimes self-pity blares like a megaphone, but sometimes we learn to muffle the “woe-is-mes,” to make them …
In Others’ Words: The Joy of Losing
There’s certainly something to be said about receiving and the kind of joy it brings. Receiving a gift. A compliment. A raise. Unexpected good news. But there’s also a special kind of joy that comes with giving away. Giving away some of your time to someone else who needs your help. Sometimes you might give away money — because you have extra …
In Others’ Words: You’re Not Alone by Guest Blogger Varina Denman (Giveaway)
Today I welcome author and friend Varina Denman to the blog! Varina writes stories about the unique struggles women face. Her award-winning Mended Hearts series, which revolves around church hurt, is a compelling blend of women’s fiction and inspirational romance. A native Texan, Varina lives near Fort Worth with her husband and five mostly grown children. Connect with Varina on her website …