Writing a book can be a solitary, singular, focused experience. Now that the book has been published, it has become a public, universal, joint adventure that is just beginning. There are sooo many things that have happened since I received book in hand on Friday, February 24, 2012. I want to share my testimonies (of which there are many), but am very aware of the fine line between "testifying" and "bragging". I don't want to be that person that every time you talk to them, all they do is talk about themselves and what is going on in their lives - good, bad, or indifferent.
But the reality is: my focus right now is the book. Every waking moment seems to be consumed with either acknowledging how God has worked so many things out in my favor BEFORE the book became a reality - or the marketing aspects of the book that I was not prepared for - or the learning how to stand quietly and accept the support, praise and accolades of my family, friends and loved ones. It ain't easy for me to be "in the spotlight" (hard as that is to believe). I am learning, through this experience, that I am much more a "giver" than a "receiver" and more of a "deflector" when it comes to accolades and praise. I gotta get better at that, without losing the ability to be humble and gracious in light of God's many blessings.
Having said that, I must admit that I stand in humble amazement at how God is working HIS plan for this book. I am not a "big picture" girl. I focus in on the minutiae. Doing the editing, proofreading, re-editing of the book- yeah, that was "easy". Hunker down, get 'er done. All I wanted to do was write a book. Get it in print. Check that off my "to-do"/bucket list. I didn't think about what would happen after the book was in print. Marketing strategies, book signings, seeing/hearing friends and strangers read my words back to me and comment on it - to my face. Yeah, I wasn't thinking about all that. But God was.
And because He was, six months ago, He caused me to be reunited with a college friend, who is now in a position of influence with my alma mater and who is petitioning on my behalf to get me profiled in an alumni magazine that will go out to over 20,000 alumni of the college. WHAT?!
Because it is within His plan for this book, doors are being opened in unexpected places for book signings, "chats with the author" programs, a potential Sunday morning TV spot, placement of the book on the shelves of the local Christian bookstore in my neighborhood, as well as the DeKalb County public library in their "Local Authors" section of their circulation department. Can I get another WHAT?! All of this with little or no legwork by me. I stand amazed.
Everyone who knows me knows that my favorite Bible text is Jeremiah 29:11, where God talks about having a plan for our lives. My co-worker pointed out another text to me recently. Proverbs 18:16 states: A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. In other words, God gave me a gift, I used it (to the best of my ability) to bring glory and honor to Him, and now He is putting me "before great men" to bring further glory and honor to Him. Amen!
I still stand amazed that God would use ME to glorify His Kingdom. He knows my cracks, flaws and imperfections. He knows how unworthy I am, but loves me and trusts me anyway. I solicit your prayers as I move forward along the path He has prepared for me. Come along for the journey. I am sure there will be many more things ahead that will cause us to stop in amazement and offer up praise.
Thank you and God bless.
No comments:
Post a Comment