I read a lot about how to blog, since I pretty much suck at it, at least consistency-wise. I read a tip recently that stood out…
Be the content.
Hmmm. I don’t know now. When I started this little endeavor a while back, I was set on being open and honest, sharing even the rawest of life’s mess, posting the little things that make me happy, sharing highlights from our trips…all of it. Gee, I must have really been living the good life back then.
As a year or so passed, life got a lot darker in many ways. I have written about our struggles with my daughter’s mental health, suicidal ideation, and anxiety. I talked a little about the slump I was in through the summer following a hard year for me at the studio. I touched on my perceived hormone deficiency with all the sweating and whatnot (which turned out to be horribly true, by the way).
I haven’t exactly been Little Mary Sunshine.
Looking back, I remember wanting to write but not having much good stuff to say. We go through those seasons, don’t we? You know the ones where you can’t seem to catch a break, can’t create any momentum, and sometimes can’t even find your own feet to stand on? That was me, and I had adopted the “if you can’t say anything nice” approach.
Yeah, that’s been my season, and I felt like nobody really wanted to hear all that mess. Many of you follow the same Facebook Blogger Writer Ladies that I do, and I see your love for their uplifting, inspiring, almost melodic posts. Then I look at myself and what I have to write about and think, “Naw. Just be quiet.”. I mean, there is only so much about dealing with suicide and potential menopause anybody wants to hear. And how do those writers do it? Their stuff is all wonderful-sounding, but is that really their life? It’s sure not mine.
And then, today, I read James.
James 1:2 says that we should consider it “pure joy” when we face trials.
James 1:3 goes on to say that “testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
James 1:4 tells us to “let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
So that’s it. I really can be the motivating content. My hardships, our bout with suicidal thoughts, my freaking hot flashes…that’s the stuff. Those are the trials exercising my faith, strengthening my resolve, earning me wisdom, and making me complete. Oddly, I think I can even find some joy in that. And maybe somebody else can, too.
James 1:5 reminds us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God. He gives generously. We are to have such faith and truly believe (without a doubt!) that our trials will ultimately result in growth. Maybe my thoughts will cause another woman to examine her own faith.
If whatever I’m going through (and good heavens, Y’all, it’s a lot still, almost constantly) is going to strengthen my perseverance, bolster my faith, and make me complete, then I guess I can seek goodness in that, push through, and write about it for those kind enough to read my musings. Maybe they realize that their own problems might ultimately make them complete, too.
Wednesday night at church, the lesson covered Bible verse memorization (the benefits of memorizing scripture and how-to). I sat next to a beautiful friend who told me she writes the first letter of each word of a verse on her arm or hand when she is trying to memorize it. I’m on my way! Cool advice. Thanks, Amber!
Every good and perfect gift is from God.
James 1:17
Amanda Herring, Writer 