Sadly, a year after it was released, my book, "When Your Child is Hurting" was being taken out of circulation.
I knew the publisher took a risk on the topic, and me - truth be told. And the weight of that decision sat heavy on me. My first response was tears, for several reasons. The first was sadness that I disappointed the good people at the publishing house who invested in the book. Second there was a personal sadness that I didn't make it work. As much as I tried to hold off the negative thoughts about my writing and potential, a few snuck in.
Even though I've got another book in the works, that one disappointment started to stain everything I believed about my calling to write.
Maybe I'm just not cut out to write in this market.
Maybe my writing is boring.
Maybe I'm too boring to write in this market.
The day after I got the letter, I read this blog post by Seth Godin,
So I put on my big girl panties, (like my sweet friend Lysa likes to say), and decided that it wasn't the time to declare myself a failure. It was the time to embrace hard, and dig in.
Godin ended his post with these sentences:
The first five years of my solo business, when the struggle seemed neverending, I never missed a day, never took a nap. (I also committed to ending the day at a certain time and not working on the weekends. It cuts both ways.)
In short: show up.Interesting how God knew I needed to hear those words on exactly that day. God wasn't telling me "no" - I was.
Perhaps someone else needs to hear these words today. If you are facing something painful today, please don't give up - at least not now when your emotions are threatening. I remembered something else a friend once told me: "Don't doubt in the dark what you know to be true in the light."
And now, abruptly changing the subject, I picked a winner completely at random for the gift basket from Rose Lane Cottage. It will contain some little goodies that I'll tuck in for you. The winner is Shelia Hall. I've emailed you personally for your mailing address.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to post a comment. I LOVED reading them.
In His Love,
Glynnis
Art is hard. Selling is hard. Writing is hard. Making a difference is hard.
When you're doing hard work, getting rejected, failing, working it out--this is a dumb time to make a situational decision about whether it's time for a nap or a day off or a coffee break.
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5 comments:
Thanks for being so honest. I read your book and it helped immensely. Looking forward to your next one. :0)
Boy, did I need this. May 2005 I started a woman's ministry in my home being obedient to God's leading. Its called W.O.W.,( Women of the Word.) Five years later, and we're still meeting, but over the last several months, I had ladies leave giving me the excuse that other things have come up and they won't be able to attend anymore. We are now down to 3 ladies. I'm noticing a pattern, if something comes up and they have to give up an activity, they leave the W.O.W. Group. This has really been disheartening and now I'm even questioning my calling. Discouragement has set in. I've even gone so far as to cancel our meetings for January and February and going to try to start up again in March. I've prayed and ask God to tell me whether its time to quit or to persevere. I do have a daily devotional that I send out to 60 women via the internet throughout the country. Also directed by the Lord to start the devotional. Thanks for your encouraging words. Unless God tells me to shut down my ministry, I will meet even if its with 3 ladies. God's work will go on!
Glynis,
Thank you so much for your honesty. Your blog post addresses an issue that I believe most of us struggle with at some point...disappointment. Your words are an encouragement.
Oh Glynnis, thank you for your transparency here. I'm SO sorry about your book. Here's a big cyber (((Hug))) for you.
What's cool about this is you're already busy working on your next book, so (hopefully) that cushions the blow somewhat. God often gives me a "Yes" right before I get a "No", and the one cushions the other somehow.
I'm really looking forward to your next book--I absolutely LOVE the title and can totally relate. I'm sure many women will!
Glynnis: Your transparency and humility bless and encourage me (and I am sure everyone who has read this). I respect and love you more for sharing this. Thank you.
And His beautiful work in your heart through this will be a great treasure to you. May your heart, home and family be filled with His rare and beautiful treasurs.
Hugs,
Sharon
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