November: Encourage Each Other
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11
We are writers together in God’s kingdom; what a blessed place to be. This month share how you have been encouraged, stimulated, and motivated by others to write, or how you can be an encouragement to fellow writers.
I write because I must. Thoughts flow from my brain to my hand to paper or screen. Writing clarifies my thinking and gives my emotions an outlet. I write for myself, for my sanity. I also write for others. I write to connect. Blogposts mostly, some devotionals, and currently, a memoir. How do I know if I'm making a connection?
On my blog there have been some nasty comments with pointed remarks that make me wonder if it is someone who knows me in my real life. Perhaps not. Those comments scrape me a little, but do not cut me. I have learned to delete and ignore them. Now I have comment moderation enabled so that no one else has a chance to see them.
Conversely, when someone says they enjoy my writing, that they find my words beautiful, or challenging, or interesting, that they provoke some sort of emotion, I am thrilled. Recently I received a private message from someone I do not know. She wrote, "I wanted to let you know how much I like your blog and IG. I hear encouragement in your words. Your messages are uplifting at a time when we need it most." My heart was softened by her words.
So often I think I am sending words into the void. But there are people reading my words, finding solace and encouragement. Is that not also why I write? To assure people that no one is alone, that we gather around a common table, that we live life together. That grace and mercy flow in an unending stream and God's heart is always for us. That in this world of brokenness there is healing and wholeness.
As I am encouraged by others, I also want to affirm the words of other writers that speak to me. Reading inspires all sorts of emotions, from laughter to tears, and joy to sorrow. Telling a writer how their words have affected me encourages them and makes me thankful. Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl in hiding during WWII wrote "I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn." Anne never knew how many people would read her words. She wrote for herself, but intended one day to publish. Sadly, her life was cut short and she never saw the impact her diary would have on the world. I wish I could tell her how much I enjoy her book, and how it has made me think. Let's not lose the opportunities we have to encourage other writers.
Lorrie writes from Vancouver Island where the leaves alternately
fly off the trees in golden sunshine or lie sodden on the ground
under rainy skies. Excerpts from her memoir, Life is Short but Wide
can be found at SubStack, and her slice of life writing at her blog.
Her writing can also be found at
Thanks, Lorrie, for starting off our monthly theme "Encouragement" with your own heartening post. And that message you received from someone about what you write on your blog and IG: "I hear encouragement in your words." Words to hold close to one's heart. So affirming. I feel the lift in those words - how buoying.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brenda. Affirming words encourage us all.
DeleteI enjoy your blog and your posts here, so much, Lorrie. The person who commented about your words being encouraging is correct. Your words inspire me to journal more of my own thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. I love that you are journaling more of your own thoughts.
DeleteYou are so right that our words are not diving into a void, though it may feel like that at times. We can trust that the Holy Spirit is using the work we do in obedience to Him. We may only find out how much when we get to heaven!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michelle. Yes, we may never know the impact our words have until heaven.
DeleteDear Lorrie, I hope you are encouraged to know you have a kindred spirit in me. The following statements you wrote sum up my own purpose in my writing. "To assure people that no one is alone, that we gather around a common table, that we live life together. That grace and mercy flow in an unending stream and God's heart is always for us. That in this world of brokenness there is healing and wholeness." Thank you for beginning our November theme with such heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alan. I love that you consider me a kindred spirit.
DeleteTwo of your phrases struck a resonating plink in my heart today. "So often I think I am sending words into the void." I find myself feeling that often, and then I remind myself that God has prompted the writing and even if He and I are the only ones who see it, ok. "... to assure people that they no one is alone." Yes, that is at the deepest heart of why I write. Thank you Lorrie.
ReplyDeleteThanks for starting us out on such a thoughtful post, Lorrie. I agree with you that often I feel as though my words go out into the stratospehere where they'll get lost. But every once in awhile I get a message back as my words have been apropos and an encouragement to someone. God is so gracious.
ReplyDeleteDear Lorrie, Thank you for this blogpost. When I read your paragraph that begins, "I write because I must," you had me. I've been away from writing these past several years and I miss it terribly for all the reasons you express. I loved how the ideas flowed "from my brain to my hand to my paper or screen." I loved how writing clarified my thinking and gave me an outlet. My writing helped my own sanity and may have helped others. I still write on Facebook to connect, but I'm not finishing up and polishing my writing for other publication. I am herby taking your writing, if you don't mind, to motivate me to get back to writing the way I used to write. Thank you for the encouragement you've given me, Lorrie. (Sharon Espeseth)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great start to the month, Lorrie. Writing for “sanity,” - I can relate. I love one of your reasons for connection, “ To assure people that no one is alone, that we gather around a common table, that we live life together.” - so true and so vital in these days when so many seclude themselves with screens, particularly post Covid. I agree, we are all in this together. Thanks, Lorrie.
ReplyDelete