by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden
“How can you sit all day in front of your computer and write?”
“Don’t you get lonely or tired of not seeing anyone else but your computer?”
“I love your writing, but it must be a terribly hard thing to do.”
I’ve had many people ask me these and many similar questions. From friends to family to strangers in the grocery store, they are astounded that the solitary writing life seems so fun and fulfilling to me.
This is the month we focus on being thankful and I have to say that after my Savior, husband, family, and friends, next on the list would have to be my writing. I am so thankful I get to spend my days writing for the Kingdom and being a missionary in print. There are many aspects to be thankful for as a writer and I am always happy to share them.
4 Reasons We can Be Thankful to Be a Writer
1.Writing is my calling. Until we find our calling in life, we are never truly happy. But when we discover what God created us to do, there is such a feeling of peace and commitment to our calling I can’t believe we would be happy doing anything else. When you discover your calling, you find what truly makes you content. On the few days I am busy, I find as I walk by my computer it beckons me to sit down and write. If I just don’t feel I have time at that moment to join Vera (the name I have given my computer), the rest of my day seems like it is missing something.
2. I love being able to fulfill the calling God has given me and still be at home with my children. They understand when I have a deadline and respect that. When they were younger, I wrote in my head all day, then when it was naptime (which was never as long as I would have liked!), I raced to my word processor and quickly got the words in my head down on paper. Even if that was just ten minutes I was able to get a start on my article and be ready to continue at the next break or at bedtime. As they got older, they wanted to become more involved in my writing and help whenever they could.
My first book was called Love Notes in Lunchboxes and all my son’s friends wanted to comment in it. I complied and these “lunchbox kids” were my best launch team. Later I wrote a soccer handbook. I had very little knowledge of soccer. Once again my son’s friends came to the rescue. Every day on the way home from school they stopped by. I had warm cookies ready, and they stood in the middle of my den and showed me how to do the moves. It’s much easier to write about something if you know how to do it.
3. Because I am a writer I have lots of friends who support what I do. Although we only see each other at conferences and a few other times a year, we still feel a close bond and talk often through Zoom or on the phone.
Because many of my friends are writers, we understand each other and know the hard parts of being writers. If we have questions about writing or computers, we can almost always find a friend who knows the answer.
4. As I have a new idea, I realize where that idea came from. It helps me focus on God as I realize he gave me that idea and it was something he really wants me to share with others through my writing. Often when I can’t think of anything to write about, I spend time in prayer asking God what I need to be writing about.
This month I have so much to be thankful for. Beside those things which are tangible, I have the love and support of my family and friends and the assurance of knowing I am doing just what God has called me to do.
How about you? Do you have that assurance? Why don’t you make a list of the things you are thankful for and commit to pray and thank God for those things every day. Especially remember the blessing of His calling you to write.
TWEETABLE
This was a much needed reminder. Thank you, Linda.
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