I am writing this post on Tuesday, December 28, 2021–three days after Christmas. Yesterday morning, two days after Christmas and following a full day of Sabbath rest, I woke to a long to-do list nagging for my attention, and I fully expected to work my way through that list.
I had ample time to recover from all the holiday festivities, so I should have had the mental, physical, and emotional energy to tackle the items on the list.
But by Monday afternoon, I’d only checked off two small tasks. By Monday evening, I was chiding myself for my lack of focus, my laziness, my inability to… Well, you get the idea. The evening went downhill from there.
I really should have done better.
Now, on the afternoon of December 28, the day after that no-good day and following another night of rest, I’ve checked all the boxes on the list and then some.
What if, instead of living under the shoulds, I had chosen to live under grace?
What if you made that choice too?
Instead, when our mind, body, and soul need rest and we have the means to allow ourselves what we need, let’s do so with grace and with gratitude. Let’s relinquish legalism and perfectionism. Neither serve us well, especially as writers. Let’s also do away with depending on ourselves and our own abilities rather than on God.
Does that mean we never put fingers to the computer keys when weary? No, of course not. Sometimes we push through fatigue, dependent on God’s strength through our weakness.
It does mean that we tune out the negative commentary running through our minds. We exchange self-chastisement for prayer, confessing our weakness to the God who provides all we need. We trust Him. His strength. His timing. His way.
We give thanks to the God who gifted us a day set aside each week, a day to keep holy and to focus on Him, a day to rest.
If you’ve read more than one of my emails over the last couple weeks, you’ve likely spotted a theme.
Rest.
Stillness.
Grace.
These are tools that serve writers well.
These are tools we can choose to embrace as gifts, work into the rhythm of our new year, and encourage each other to reach for when the shoulds creep in.
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Rest, stillness, grace – I am not good at this. But God.
Jane, we can practice together.
Thank you for this timely reminder. It helps to see I’m not alone. Your authenticity helps me to identify as a fellow writer. You are successful AND you struggle the way I do. I thought the struggle was a part of not being a REAL WRITER. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Thank you!
Michele, maybe the struggle is proof that you are a real writer. 🙂
Rest. I’m coming to the end of a 10-day Florida getaway. I live in the frigid state of Minnesota, where the January temperatures are often well below zero, so the warmth and the sun have done wonders. On this trip, I’ve realized how much I’ve needed this rest. This past year has been breakneck speed hectic. As I’ve relaxed and rested, my creativity, which had been waning, has flooded my heart, mind, and soul. Relaxing is not my forte, but GOD. In His strength, I can do all things…even rest. 😊
Angela, this is a beautiful testimony to the power of slowing your pace, or rest.
Thank you for your post Ginny. God is kinder to us than we give him credit for. May we extend generous portions of grace and comfort to those in our sphere of influence today. Grace like gravy.
Grace like gravy. Yes! 🙂
You are a wise soul, Ginny. Sending you love. Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you for this timely reminder, especially “ We exchange self-chastisement for prayer, confessing our weakness to the God who provides all we need. We trust Him. His strength. His timing. His way.”