Seven Years Ago

When my husband and I were first married, we lived in an apartment.
The apartment was located in my favorite place of Amish buggies.
We had a newspaper delivered every day.
There was a column in the Sunday paper that caught my eye.

Various people wrote something each week for this column.
The content varied.
I had no idea if the writers were on staff at the paper.
I would often read the column on a Sunday afternoon.

I wondered if I could write something that the newspaper would deem publishable.
I thought I would give it a try.
I had been walking near a pond that was close to our apartment.
I would sit on a bench and watch the ducks.

It was the day that I saw an elegant swan, I knew I had to write about what I saw.
I watched the ducks scramble to get the pieces of bread that the children would toss.
The ducks would all go towards one piece of bread.
As the ducks scrambled, the swan glided regally along the water.

I wrote about the swan and submitted it to the newspaper.
I got a call telling me that they were going to use my writing.
I had to submit a picture of myself for the byline.
I was so excited to see my words in print.

The following Sunday, the story about the swan was published.
My husband saw the column before I did.
It was thrilling to see words that I wrote right there in front of me.
After that initial excitement, I wondered if it would ever happen again.

During that week, I got a phone call.
The woman on the other end called me about the column I wrote.
Like me, she enjoyed watching the ducks.
She told me that the story of the beautiful swan touched her heart.

Keep writing, dear, she said in the tone of a grandmother.
You made me feel like I was sitting right there at the pond with you.
I was so moved by the fact that a woman I did not even know, took the time to call me.
The newspaper called me the next week and told me that they were getting many responses.

I was amazed that a simple story about a swan could affect so many people.
The newspaper told me that they would publish more of my writing for the Sunday column.
I wrote a few more stories until we moved into our first home.
It was about five years before I would write stories like that again.

I was busy having my children.
I did not have the time to write consistently in those years.
A church that I attended, when my children were young, had a church newspaper.
The woman, who was the editor, talked to me.

It was a multi-page newspaper.
The back page needed to be filled.
The same type of writing I had done years before was what she wanted on that back page.
Every month, I wrote devotional stories.

I never thought about how many people read the back page.
I assumed it was just the church itself.
However, one Sunday, as I was walking down a ramp, someone stopped me.
My uncle in Florida loved your story this month, she said excitedly.

Before I had a chance to say anything, she continued.
I send him your stories.
It really blesses him, she told me.
It was then and there I knew the power of the written word.

My family attended another church and my consistent writing stopped.
I missed writing those devotionals.
I was not sure if I would ever do that kind of writing again.
I was teaching Bible studies by this time and often wrote stories and poems for the women.

I went out to breakfast with a writer friend of mine.
I always enjoyed hearing about her writing and speaking engagements.
What are you doing about your writing? She asked, really wanting to know.
Did you ever think about writing a blog?

The seed was planted.
I prayed about writing again.
I waited, since I did not want to do anything impulsively that would be out of God’s will.
I prayed that if I was to write a blog like my older friend suggested, God would give me its name.

It was a phone call from a friend that was the turning point.
She told me something that God had done in her life.
I rejoiced with her and said one thing to her.
God has been working all along; you just have to listen to Him whisper.

Did you hear what you just said? My friend asked.
I wrote it down, she admitted.
You just have to listen to Him whisper, she read back to me.
There’s the name of your blog, she said emphatically.

I had told my friend about my older, wiser friend’s suggestion.
She connected all the dots during our conversation.
God used her to point it out to me.
Whispers of His Movement was born.

My oldest daughter, who is a web designer, designed the site for me.
She handles all the logistics and the back end things that I know nothing about.
I really do not want to know numbers of subscriptions and the scope of its reach.
All I do is write and hit enter on my laptop; I trust that God will do the rest.

The first Whisper was published on March 6, 2012.
As you read this, today is the 7 year anniversary of when I first started this blog.
Seven years of writing, five days a week.
That is an impossible task apart from God.

Like the person on the ramp all those years ago, I still hear that my writing is sent to others.
Like the woman who called me, I still get emails, notes, and phone calls about a Whisper.
That feedback, though unnecessary, blesses my heart.
It helps me to press on.

There are weary days.
There are days when I have no idea how I will find time to write 800-1000 words.
There are days when I have absolutely no idea what I will write about.
There are days when I question if I should continue or cut back a bit.

Those days are usually when I will hear from someone I do not know.
I will hear how a particular Whisper was written just for them.
That is probably true.
God knows what each of us needs to help us on our journey.

I am simply a willing servant.
I am simply a woman who loves the Lord and loves His Word.
I am simply a woman who is passionate about others knowing Him, too.
I am simply a woman who wants to write words that matter.

So, today, on the seven year anniversary of Whispers of His Movement, I press on.
I know that God will direct me.
I know that God will make me aware of when it is time to stop.
He has allowed me to write two books, perhaps He will allow me to write others.

I never know who is on the other side of the computer screen.
Know that I care about each of you deeply.
Know that I want you to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Know that I want you to read God’s Word so you can know how much He loves you.

Thank you for following these Whispers for so many years.
If you are new and have just found Whispers of His Movement for the first time, Welcome!
Let’s journey together.
Let’s listen to Him Whisper.

And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power? (Job 26:14)

2 responses to “Seven Years Ago”

1. So happy you have pressed on with your blog–it’s always encouraging, insightful and reminds us how God works in this world and in each of our lives.
   You are a blessing!

   Reply

   • Sue,
     Thank you for always being so supportive and encouraging!
     Gina

     Reply