Writing with Grace and Flair

I've been getting a lot of questions about writing (mostly on Pinterest) and wanted to share a few thoughts about giving and receiving "grace" with you works and with things you read.

I happen to believe that giving grace is important.

Why?  Because you can take the same essay and turn it into 4 different English professors and you would get 4 very different grades.  You could even run the alphabet.

I've had professors, editors, and critics love my work and hate my work.  Either way works for me because my question back to them is, "did it broaden your perspective?"

If it did, then I succeeded.  If it didn't my follow up question is, "are you willing to allow your perspective to grow?"

I think that's what grace and writing is all about.  We may not all agree, but you will read my work and consider the possibilities.  Then you will give me the right to my viewpoint.  You don't have to agree.  Just let me be me.  Right for me.  Not always right for you, but you allow me to think differently than you.

For some reason it's really important to me to give others grace...the right to be who they are.  The right to:

their own theology
their own philosophy
even their own ideas about raising children

For me?  I prefer a bit of flair, lots of laughter, and loads of grace!


www.lotsagrace.org

Chronicles of Deborah

Saturday night.

Went to church.

Ate.

Came home.

Put bag down.

Forgot mail.

Got mail key.

Dogs barking.

Run out quick.

Shut door.

Oh my.

Key inside.












Find a neighbor who is home.

Call a locksmith.

Wait.

Locksmith comes.

Inside.

Find a check.

Where ARE those stupid checks???

Oh yea.

Pay the locksmith (who actually was a Godsend).

Take dogs out.

Bring dogs in.

Unleashed Eddie.

Turned to grab the pup.

Eddie darts out.

Mad half crazed running down the street screaming "EDDIE!!!  EDDIE!!!  STOP!"

He slows...lunge for him.

Fall down.

He stops to poo.

Sneak in.

Grab his neck.

Drag him back.

Move lumber left outside.

Splinter.

Really God?

Are you trying to get my attention or is this just a great Saturday night show for the Angels whilst they eat popcorn?

One more question to ask when I get there...

The Journey

The journey is filled with ups and downs

ins and outs

arounds and throughs.


The journey is joy, laughter and hope

family and friends

sunshine and smiles.


The journey is sorrow, sadness and pain

family and friends

thunder and rain.


The journey is dancing round and around

dancing with love

in sorrow and joy.


The journey is the point.

The journey is life.

The journey is.

Tires and Tests

I have a “thing” about tires.  The problem I have with tires has been going on for several decades and still plagues me today.  My latest episode with tires started last week when I pulled out of my garage to go to work.  A warning indicator light came on in my new car.  I got out the manual to see what this light was telling me and you’ll never guess what it was…tires!  The light was telling me I have a problem with my tires.  You’re kidding, I thought!  I got out and looked at the tires and they looked okay, so I drove to work. 

After work I went to the gas station, got out my tire guage and checked the tires.  Sure enough, they were a little low on air so I put air in them.  I got in the car and the light was still on.  Great. 

What was really frustrating is that I constantly had trouble with the tires on my old car.  At one point I bought new tires and that didn’t seem to matter.  I still kept having to put air in them. 

When my son-in-law heard about my new tire problem, he laughed and said, “What’s with you and the tires?”  Dunno. 

I thought about all the tires I’ve replaced through the years (there were several I replaced when I was 16.)  Turns out I had a problem with going over curbs instead of around them, so I had to reconfigure my range.  Even when I fixed that, my problem with tires still persisted through the years.

I have the same problem taking tests.  I’ve never been good at taking tests…ever.  I can know the material perfectly and when I start the test my brain just shuts down.  I freak out and forget everything. 

What do tires and tests have to do with Advent you might be wondering? 

Tires and tests are two of my persistent problems.  No matter what I do, I just can’t seem to get away from this “thing” I have going on.

Deep down I think my “thing” about tires and tests comes from my expectancy.  I expect it to happen and it does. 

It’s the same with Advent.  I expect a miracle.  I expect God to speak to my heart.  I expect the Spirit to touch me in a way I’ve never been touched before.  Even when I’m not ready for all that Christmas brings – food, singing, presents, and festivities – I always expect God to show up. 

Know what? I’ve never been disappointed.  What is incredible is that it never happens like I expect and it never comes the same way twice.  Sometimes it’s loud and booming and at other times it’s as quiet as a whisper.  All I know is that God shows up in the most unexpected ways. He always has, for as far back as I can remember. God shows up. 

I am excited about where God is going to show up during this season.  I can’t wait! 

So, what about you? What do you expect?