I Felt the Love Tonight by Shirley Williams

We're pleased to have Shirley Williams from Barrhead, AB share today as our Guest Blogger.

I really love my church family! We’d never make it without Jesus to guide us together through life’s trials. Sometimes we all struggle accepting trials and their friends called pain and suffering. We may not be aware that trials produce spiritual character growth through cleansing, insightful and maturing experiences, that can’t be duplicated through carefree untested times. It seems that through the trials of His children, God performs His greatest works!

Joseph of the bible is a good example. He suffered many years of trials (beginning through his family), and ended up saving Egypt and the known world at the time! Through God’s almighty, merciful hand, he “Saved Many People Alive!” After Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, he told them: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good!” Only someone who had endured great trials and their blessings could say something like that! Joseph’s story is a beautiful reflection of undeserved redemption and hope, through obedience, faith and love. A foreshadowing of God’s great mercy and forgiveness to all mankind, through our Savior Jesus Christ.

Joseph’s story came to mind tonight as I pondered my recent trials, through caregiving for two family members. It has become so demanding, that my own life is at a standstill, as I bounce between them every day. Today was almost unbearable. By the afternoon, I was crying and not able to withstand the load any more.

As we joined our bible study group tonight, I hoped that ‘I could keep it all together!’ The actual reverse happened. When we began singing at the beginning of our meeting, the comforting songs of God’s love swept me away. Before I knew it, I began choking up as a flood of tears began to well up inside. God’s great love began to surround and comfort me at the end of a very long and tedious day. Fighting the tears back, I dismissed myself to the nearby washroom. I sat in a cubicle and leaned on the wall, where I sobbed for a seemingly long time.

Between my sobs, I heard our friends’ angelic voices singing hymns of faith that consoled my aching soul. I remembered that through their trials, they fully trusted God. They are truly loving and wise Godly examples, whom we dearly treasure! Tonight, they all seemed so ‘normal’ and things were not ‘falling apart’ for them. I was happy for them. “I Felt the Love Tonight”, as I listened to their beautiful voices, singing hymns of faith; I understood more clearly of God’s love, hope, wisdom, and assurance.

Caregiving stress drove me to a fragile, humbled state where I needed to be alone, collapse and let myself go, and let go of myself. I wept like a child in the church washroom tonight, while God held me up through the singing of faithful friends. As the tears flowed, so did a flood of memories, as I mourned the loss and changes in my parents during their strong and healthy farming years. I longed for those childlike days of less responsibility and I pondered the brevity of life. Suddenly I realized how fully God was the parent to me now. Jesus comforted and hugged my overwhelmed soul when I needed it the most and “I Felt the Love Tonight!”

As Joseph triumphed through his trials with God saying “God had meant it for good”, may I have the same perspective as I go through my own unique trials in life!” (PTL!). Romans 8:28

Written on January 24, 2014

Faith Through Autism - Shirley Williams

We're pleased to once again have Shirley as our Guest Blogger on InScribe Writers Online.



Recently we commemorated World Autism Month, and I would like to share a family experience and how God put it all into perspective!

As we stroll around our local ‘arena walking track’ tonight, a hockey game plays below. We listen to cheers and music and watch boys our son Joe’s age, win against the visiting team. The noise is too loud for Joe, so he puts on his large red headphones. (Unfortunately these are the only ones he can wear). Everyone notices him as we walk around the track; especially other teenage boys. They watch as he comes around to their side of the arena; waiting, it seems for a chance to get him alone and tease him for looking different. This would not the first time Joe might be teased/bullied on this track, at school, or in our community.

Joe doesn’t have to wear headphones to get attention as he walks. Though he is fifteen, he walks like a younger child. He skips along, humming, or reciting movies along the way. Joe is different from other teenage boys his age; different because our dear son Joseph has autism.

Sometimes reality catches up with me as we walk around the track and through life. The reality that our son IS not normal, as other boys his age. Without autism he could be playing with the hockey team; but instead he walks friendless along the track with us.

It brings a tear to my eye as I compare Joe with the other boys as we walk, noticing stares toward him (regardless of headphones), knowing that he is so easily victimized, and being very aware of our huge lifelong responsibility. As I ponder this, these thoughts soon give way, to thoughts of how very special Joe is, regardless of his differences, and how God has given us so much love for him!

I recall how he can quickly recite information on history, movies and most animals and dinosaurs! He is compassionate, innocent, honest and funny. Joe is an awesome artist and wants to become an animation film producer someday. Joe is Joe all day long; he doesn’t play emotional games. He truly is who he is. This is so refreshing in today’s society.

Joe doesn’t skate or do well on a team. He’d rather do things alone or with a few others. His sensitivities make it difficult for him to live in today’s world; though live in it he must. He is doing his best to adapt to a world that is ‘too noisy, too bright and too overwhelming’ for him. He will navigate the world differently than most of us, but with help and love, he will be ALL THAT HE CAN BE someday. Thank God, that is enough, regardless of what the world says. Joe will never be another ‘Wayne Gretzky' but neither will those boys ever have a fantastic mind for memory or detail that Joe has. When I review the differences, though disturbing at first, then interesting, I realize that Joe and each of these boys have different gifts, abilities and purposes; very special and unique paths for each one.

Sometimes I struggle accepting Joe’s special needs, but mostly, I rejoice in his special abilities and how well he is doing. I can see that God has a special purpose for Joe, the boy’s hockey team, the hecklers and for all of us. We are all ‘a work in progress’. May we all accept, appreciate and be patient with the unique process each one of us goes through in life, special needs or not! (See Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Inspired Writing Vs. Disciplined Writing - Shirley Williams

We're pleased to have Shirley join us today as our Guest Blogger here at InScribe Writers Online.

In writing circles there has always been the question of: Shall I write only when I’m inspired and in the mood? Or shall I discipline myself to write, whether or not I am inspired? These two methods seem to battle against each other in the artist's mind as they consider the best possible outcomes.

I once believed my writing was only effective or passionate when I was inspired or moved by an experience. I would rush home to my writing tablet or computer and write everything down that I had just experienced and felt, including the life lesson learned, etc. It was still fresh in my mind, still pumping in my veins and I had to get it out on paper to share with the rest of the world! Some of my best writing has been produced this way, because I 'stayed in the moment' with my experience and got it all down on paper. The passion or 'life of the story' was captured because it was written down immediately with all the fresh details, thoughts and emotions entailed!

In contrast, I have attended numerous writing meetings with our local writers group and have gone tired and overwhelmed (mom of autistic child) and have thought, “ I don’t think I can even participate today, I’ll just be inspired by everyone”. Lo and behold, as soon as the first writing exercise is presented, there I am along with the other ladies frantically writing and always finishing last (hoping for more time to finish my piece!) I am amazed that my fatigue melts away as I begin writing with the others and it equally surprises me, as to the quality of 'new' writing produced in a mere 10-15 minutes!

I have to laugh at myself because I have always thought that I just enjoyed writing when inspired, but from our writing class I have discovered that, “Yes, great writing can also come out of disciplined writing time.” My realization of this truth about being inspired or a disciplined artist was further validated by an article I read recently by Tchaikovsky. Though he refers to music in his letter, it can be applied to all of the arts, including writing. I hope that you find it encouraging too!

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote to his benefactress, Nadezhda von Meck, dated March 17th, 1878, (found in the 1905 volume The Life & Letters of Pete Ilich Tchaikovsky (public domain):

Do not believe those who try to persuade you that composition is only a cold exercise of the intellect. The only music capable of moving and touching us is that which flows from the depths of a composer’s soul when he is stirred by inspiration. There is no doubt that even the greatest musical geniuses have sometimes worked without inspiration. This guest does not always respond to the first invitation. We must always work, and a self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood. If we wait for the mood, without endeavoring to meet it half-way, we easily become indolent and apathetic. We must be patient, and believe that inspiration will come to those who can master their disinclination.

From my own experiences of writing 'In the Mood' and writing 'Disciplined', I can say that I realize it is not an all or nothing option. I think that both can be accomplished for different types of writing. If you think about it, does it really matter how the words get down on paper; as long as they do!

Shirley Williams lives in Barrhead, Alberta, and is happily married for 22 years to her husband, Dave.  They have two grown children: Joe and Sarah.  Their son has high functioning autism.  Shirley has written for years on the subject, as well as Christian-based poems and short stories.    Shirley belongs to her local writers group and produces local video productions, both of which she enjoys very much.  She is helping her son publish his first children’s book and is working on two of her own books: Recipes for special diets and an Autism devotional. She has a College Diploma in Journalism/Radio/TV production and enjoys encouragement ministries, nature, hiking, scrapbooking and the arts!