Friday, May 29, 2009

Oh, So This is What it's Like.

When we were newly married and stupid, I wanted to have nine kids. Then we had our first, and I said, “Oh. This is what it’s like.” Cuddlings, cooings and cuteness equal roughly 10% of the total time “raising kids.” The other 90% is made up of nights sleeping only four hours, cleaning endless stinky messes, and…well, you know. It took me fifteen whole minutes to change my mind and settle on two offspring instead of nine.

When I told the Lord concerning writing, “This is what I want to do with my life!” I didn’t realize I was repeating history. It took me another whole fifteen minutes to realize that writing equals about 10% of what I fill my hours with. Revising, editing, nights sleeping only four hours… well, you know. It's much like raising kids. The difference is, I’m not changing my mind. I still want to write.

Yesterday a thought zinged into my brain that had to be from Jesus; I’m not smart enough to come up with this one:

No one’s job is 100% what they originally thought it would be.

A police officer wants to help curb crime and protect innocent people, then spends endless hours doing paperwork and breaking up marital fights.

A preacher dreams of winning souls to Christ and helping believers grow in their faith, then spends endless hours going to board meetings and refereeing fights between Sister Sassy and Brother Brouhaha.

A nurse longs to cure ills and save lives, then spends endless hours cleaning bed pans and soothing ruffled feathers of disgruntled family members.

Does that make you feel better, knowing we writers are not the only ones forced to do tedious, less-than-exciting tasks to keep our books, articles, and poems rolling along? Probably the only difference between us and the other folks I mentioned is: they get paid a fat wad more!! Oh, well…

Blessings on you precious friends and patient "parents" as you write (and edit, and fix, and revise) for your Audience of One. HE will reward every little thing you do for Him!
Jen

13 comments:

  1. What a true post! I have a saying myself..."Nothing is ideal". In this fallen world, there is no perfect anything! Sure, we could wish/hope for it, but the sad truth is, there will always be stuff we don't care for, stuff we have to endure along with the stuff we love! Very thoughtful post!

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  2. I've always looked at parenting as God's way to stretch me and shape me more into his image. Parenting gives me so many opportunities to grow in patience, perseverance, dilligence, etc. If I carry that same analogy over into my writing, then I can trust that all of the difficulties and hardships I encounter on this writing journey are an opportunity to grow and become more like Him. If nothing else happens in my writing, he's still using it to shape me more into the person he wants me to be!

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  3. Hahaa! LOL about the kids. That was funny. Great examples and great point in this post. :-)

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  4. Sherrinda: Thanks for the wise comments. You are right; we will never have a perfect life until we live in Heaven.

    Jody: You are right; parenting is a big grow up call! Hopefully we are better people because of it's lessons. Great analogy on the writing life, too!

    Jessie: Thanks. You should know, with your 101 dal, oh, i mean sons! Does it seem like 101 sometimes?

    Jaime: Thanks. Happy weekend, Jen

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  5. I liked the bit about getting paid a fat wad more. :D

    There is a lot that goes into writing but the rewards...ah, those rewards (not so much publication, but that release and sort of endorphin thing that happens when we write! Ah!)

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  6. Oh my! I never looked at it that way before. Thanks for opening my eyes. We all have our trials and tribulations. Good to remind ourselves of that.

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  7. Wendy: Yes, we all live for that endorphin, don't we? LOL!
    Jen

    Eileen: Thanks. You are a great encouragement to many.
    Jen

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  8. I love how you say The Lord will reward all you do for him, it makes it all worth it.

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  9. T. Anne:
    You have such a soft, tender heart toward the Lord, dear.
    You know He wants to reward you even more than you need a reward, He is so good!

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  10. Great analogy that inspires.

    Thanks.

    smooches,
    Larie

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  11. Wonderful post! So many new writers think it is all about the writing--and that is such a small part to be published and successful. Thanks for this! Hope you are doing well.

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  12. Dear Larie:
    Thank you! Peaceful weekend to you and your fam,
    Jen

    Terri:
    Thanks for the encouragement. You know I am preaching to myself, right?

    Yes, I'm doing well, thanks for caring. I am just kind of tired...
    Jen

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