Dipping the Quill Deeper—One Writer's Thoughts about December 2022

by Eva Marie Everson

Accompany me to-day, O Spirit invisible, in all my goings, but stay with me also when I am in my own home and among my kindred. Forbid that I should fail to show to those nearest to me the sympathy and consideration which thy grace enables me to show to others with whom I have to do. Forbid that I should refuse to my own household the courtesy and politeness which I think proper to show to strangers. Let charity to-day begin at home. ~John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer

Scottish-born theologian John Baillie (1886-1960) wrote his highly praised book, A Diary of Private Prayer almost 100 years ago, yet the words of this one prayer ring as true today as they did when he penned them. To me, especially during this Advent season, they hold special significance. 

We often say that this time of year is a time to reflect upon the One who came—Emmanuel, God with us. But then we also fill our calendars with church events and choral performances, parties and other various forms of get-togethers, shopping trips where we find ourselves in a frenzy of other shoppers followed by those frantic rushes back to the mall or the store to pick up that one thing we forgot (or checking our Amazon order to make sure the item will arrive by Christmas), decorating both inside and outside our homes, dinners made and cookies baked, and wrapping presents for under the tree. And on . . . and on . . . and on. We fill the “twelve days of Christmas” with enough activities to fill a twelve-month calendar.

This time of year, which should be the happiest and the merriest of all—because we remember Him and the gifts He continues to give—can often become anything but. And, for we writers who often find ourselves with end-of-the-year projects or deadlines (such as: I will have this done by December 31 . . . I will, I will, I will . . .), the stress level escalates to nearly untamable proportions. We may even reach January 1 with a blink and with a, “Did I miss Christmas?” question on our tongues.

Sometimes, in all the this and the that of Christmas, we miss the very ones who are (or should be) the most important to us—those who are among those most precious gifts God gave to us—our family. We erroneously and subconsciously leave them in the dust of our holiday preparations and expectations. 

And so, as the year 2022 draws to a close, my prayer for you, Dear Writer Friend of Mine, is that you will take the time to breathe, to remember the Reason for the Season, to set your pen aside (and maybe some of those other obligations that aren’t nearly as important as you thought), and be with those God gave you, those you call family. 

Merry Christmas!

Eva Marie

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Dipping the Quill Deeper—One Writers Thoughts about December 2022 from Eva Marie Everson on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Eva Marie Everson is the CEO of Word Weavers International, the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference, and the contest director for Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. She is the multiple award-winning author of more than 40 books and countless articles and blogposts. She is also an award-winning speaker and a Bible teacher and the most recent recipient of the AWSA Lifetime Achievement Award (2022). 

Eva Marie is often seen at writers conferences across the States. She served as a mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and taught as a guest professor at Taylor University in 2011. She and her husband make their home in Central Florida where they enjoy their grandchildren. They are owned by one persnickety cat named Vanessa.

Eva Marie's latest book, THE THIRD PATH, takes a look at 26 of the questions God asked in the Bible, then makes them personal to the reader. The premise of the book is currently her most asked for continuing workshop at writers conferences.

Featured Image: Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash