During the last half-decade, I’ve felt prompted to choose a word for each year. This year, two words chose me. Before I share them, there are some things I want to give thanks for first.
I’m thankful for InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship. It has blessed me with opportunities to read the writing of other Christian Canadians and share my writing via this blog. The writing challenges Glynis Belec so generously serves up to inspirational writers across our lovely country is another thing I’m grateful for. Plus, it was through Glynis I learned about HopeStreamRadio and got the opportunity to produce podcasts for them.
The InScribe contests also provided feedback I’m grateful for. Critiques by fellow InScribers helped me better understand my writing strengths and weaknesses. Both are equally important to know. Writers need to focus on continuing to do what works while working on the areas that don’t work so well—yet.
Tracy and Sandi are two other people in InScribe I’m especially thankful for. They’re gracious, hardworking, and godly. They have welcomed my presence here with patient instruction. They’ve also given me the permission and freedom to try new things that I believe God is leading us to do. (I’m not a huge fan of change. So, aside from the potential schedule shuffle, I don’t anticipate anything else new here in 2022.)
And now for the unveiling of my two words for the New Year that have been placed in my heart and mind: Brave and serve. God knew it was time for me to be brave and branch out and serve. Not a ton of service. Not a ton of busyness. But a still-small-voice calling me to give back some of what I’ve dined on for almost ten years of writing online.
I need braveness to have the courage it takes to serve others. The last time I volunteered for something public, the main thing that saved my sanity was a sermon. In it, the pastor I had at the time reminded us that our way of doing something was better than someone else’s way of not doing something. Honestly, I love staying secluded in my writing room. But easy living doesn’t grow good writing.
Good prose needs exposure to real life in order to grow.
So, here it goes. I’m putting on brave and stepping into servant shoes for the Christ in me that’s inviting me to reach out and enrich others. (By the way, thank you for proving once again that it’s better to give than to receive. You’ve all been so kind to me in your email correspondences since I began volunteering to help with the behind-the-scenes duties for this website.)
I’m nosy-to-know if you have a word or two for 2022?
"...'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 NKJV
New Year’s Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is where she enjoys interacting with readers.
