Affirmations by Carol Harrison

 Ideas zip around my mind but the right words, to release the thoughts into the world of readers, do not always flow fast enough. At other times the blank page or screen taunts me and the enemy accuses me being a fraud with words like, "Who do you think you are to try and write, let alone publish anything?" The negative voice echos and threatens to stop all writing.

 But God's still, small voice whispers hope into my mind and heart and reminds me he has a purpose for me. He knows the struggle to use the abilities he gives and how I need encouragement as I take those words and ideas  to birth pieces of writing. God sends positive feedback when I am feeling down and discouraged. These positive words become affirmations, encouraging me to continue on the path of obedience.

The piece of my writing which has the biggest impact on many lives is my book, Amee's Story. This memoir chronicles our journey with our youngest daughter who had a stroke at birth. Doctor's gave our comatose baby a five percent chance to live. According to every specialist who ever worked with her, everything she can do is medically impossible. This book is a story of God stepping into her life and ours. Faith fills the pages.

I never wanted to write this book. I felt unqualified to do so. Even though I wondered how God might use my feeble attempts, he asked me to be faithful and obey. God had plans for this story to be sharedin a way beyond anything I could imagine. He has shown me a bit of the impact my faithfulness in writing this story has had on the lives of others but I believe it is only a small glimpse.
 
People have shared how reading this book encouraged them in their own tough time of life. One person told me, "I don't have your faith but you made me think." I pray her thoughts will turn to God in a real and personal way.

Parents of young children with special needs, some church goers and others not, have been touched by our story and told us it gave them hope for the future. Others talk about 'ah ha' moments they experienced while reading the story.

Amee's Story has gone into places I could not go. Copies have been shared around the globe, with people who would never darken the door of a church or let me quote Scripture to them. It gives more of the story than I am able to share in a brief conversation or even as a speaker at some function.

I have also received affirmation on other short pieces of my writing, telling me a devotional or short story was just what the person needed to hear at that moment in their lives. Each time I hear this, I praise God, for it is only through Him that my words can touch people.

A gentleman emailed me about a short story I wrote which had been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul. He thought it would be a powerful encouragement to his wife but she could not read English. He translated it into his own language so she could read it as often as she felt she needed.

These positive messages, received at different times in the last ten years, remind me that God calls me to listen to his voice and act on the nudges and ideas he gives me. I must be a good steward of the storytelling gift he has given. The ideas racing around my mind must find their way on to paper or a blank computer screen but they must not stay there in captivity either. I must engage in learning more about this craft of writing and do the hard work of editing. Then I need to share the stories with others. Sometimes this means they will be published. At other times God has directed me to give a piece of writing to one specific person to encourage them. Giving God all my fears and insecurities about allowing others to read the words I write is an act of obedience and service to God.

Ephesian 3: 20, 21 (NIV) encourages me to trust God for the words to write and the impact it has on people who read it.

 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."



By God's grace, affirmations come at a time when God knows I need to hear them, see them or read them to give me a tiny glimpse into his purposes for my writing. I pray He always gets the glory.

As a speaker, published author and storyteller, Carol Harrison is passionate about mentoring people of all ages and abilities to help them find their voice and reach their fullest potential. She shares from her heart, telling stories from real life experiences and God’s Word to encourage people and help them find a glimmer of hope no matter what the circumstances. She believes we need to continuously grow in our walk with God and lives out her storytelling passion by speaking at women’s events and retreats, Bible Camps as well as school assemblies and church events. Carol is a wife, mother of four adult children and grandmother to twelve. She makes her home is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.