Whispers for the New Year

All over the Internet, people are listing their resolutions for the new year.

Well, you won't find a list like that on my blog today. You won't even find any promises from me to write or submit more.

What you will find is a short story of how to listen when God whispers in your ear.

I'm really really happy 2009 finally arrived. If I'd had a choice, I'd have cancelled out 2008 and jumped forward to now months ago. But I couldn't.

My story is the same story thousands of people all over the country are experiencing today. Lost jobs, lost wages, lost savings, lost hope.

My final low hit me in December when I recognized that not only my husband needed to find work again but I needed to get a job, too until his business kicked in.

I know, so what? People work and so have I for most of my life. People also work and write.

But I found myself grieving none-the-less(is this one word or what?) for the loss of my dream of writing whenever I wanted to. I also wondered why God would do this to me at this time in my life.

It's easy to listen to the negative thoughts--you'll be too tired to write . . . you aren't any good anyways so what does it matter ?. . . My, how my thoughts took off!

But I listened and told myself I was done with the dream. It had been nice while it lasted but life goes on and since we are now in survival mode, I need to do what I need to do.

Did I mention how I like to wallow in my sorrow?

Dec. 31. I pulled a letter out of the mailbox and noted it was from a new lady in my writers' group. She'd sent me another story to critique as she doesn't own a computer.

I didn't want to but something pulled at me so I sat down in my patio chair and began to read. Her words entranced me. This unpublished writer's story touched my soul with it's beauty. And all she had asked of me was a quick critique. I was thrilled to see her progress.

Then on Friday, I opened a devotional my friend Donna had given me to read. I almost dropped the book--the woman's story could have been my own! The writer's husband had lost his job and she was forced to deal with her conflicting emotions of returning to work--thinking no one would hire her, she would miss her children . . .I wanted to email her and tell her how I understood!

Two different stories written by two completely different writers. But each one delivered their own special message to me.

A whisper from God. A whisper about my dream.

No, you won't read any resolutions today that I will write x-amount of words or finish my WIP this year. What you will find is my promise to listen to God's whisperings each day. And if He whispers for me to write--you can be sure I will.

We have a new year ahead of us and who knows what it will bring . . . some of us might see our deepest dreams come true and others of us might have to pull ourselves out of the muck and mud a few times . . . but if we listen . . .anything is possible.