Misery is watching your husband suffer with Parkinson’s and spinal stenosis and know there is so little you can do to lessen the pain. Our faith tells us that with God’s help, we will endure this.
Back in the early days of blogging, a group of us wanted a way to acknowledge a deep truth without resorting to a bunch of words. Because truly, sometimes there are no words.
We arrived at a practice, borrowed from the practice of putting small stones on a grave marker or rocks on a cairn along a path--as a way of saying "I was here; I am a witness." We used keyboard characters to emulate a stone, but now we have emojis. And so: 🪨
I agree that the worst of miseries is watching our children suffer. It’s going to be okay - whatever “okay” means. And in the meantime, yes there is a burning sensation.
Someone sent me a fortune from a fortune cookie one time that said, "You're going to be OK, just probably not in the way you thought you'd be." Struck me as one of the truest affirmations of faith I can imagine. Used it a lot in improv workshops.
This is a beautiful piece MaryAnn. Congratulations on the book proposal. I really resonated with your father's quote. As a father, with two perfectionist-leaning adult daughters (have no idea where they get it from) I often need to just be their ever-present cheerleader. I truly believe that loving others unconditionally to the point that they have no doubt about it, is the greatest gift we can give.
Congratulations on your new contract, MaryAnn! I resonate with everything you wrote about writing. Thanks for always sharing your wise and wonderful words!
I think integrating is a great idea Sometimes it's very frustrating when you have to be flipping back and forth . What did she say there that goes with here. Freedom can't wait.
It's a great point... and as I was writing this article I was thinking "why did I even think version one would work?!?" Because rough draft, that's why! lol Thanks for commenting.
I loved this inside look at your process, and how difficult it truly is to write. As someone who is trying to (maybe) write a book for the first time, it is so valuable and normalizing. I too had that romantic vision of a writer in my mind that you described and it is so helpful to hear that's false, because otherwise I'm prone to think there's something wrong with me!! Also, congratulations on the book deal!
Maryann, I would like to add the quotation from your father's letter to you in my "inspiration file" of wise words to remember. However, I only want to do that if I can cite his name with it, so that if and when I quote it to friends or family, I can give him credit. Would you mind telling me his name? (I will save it either way, but would love to be able to share it with a friend or two, and I would only do that if I could include his name with it.) Thank you so much for sharing this column. I found it incredibly helpful. Thank you, Bonnie Favorite
Bonnie, nothing would make my siblings and me happier than to know our late father lives on in the wisdom he shared not only with us, but with the wider world. Jim McKibben.
Misery is watching your husband suffer with Parkinson’s and spinal stenosis and know there is so little you can do to lessen the pain. Our faith tells us that with God’s help, we will endure this.
Back in the early days of blogging, a group of us wanted a way to acknowledge a deep truth without resorting to a bunch of words. Because truly, sometimes there are no words.
We arrived at a practice, borrowed from the practice of putting small stones on a grave marker or rocks on a cairn along a path--as a way of saying "I was here; I am a witness." We used keyboard characters to emulate a stone, but now we have emojis. And so: 🪨
Thank you Linda.
I agree that the worst of miseries is watching our children suffer. It’s going to be okay - whatever “okay” means. And in the meantime, yes there is a burning sensation.
Someone sent me a fortune from a fortune cookie one time that said, "You're going to be OK, just probably not in the way you thought you'd be." Struck me as one of the truest affirmations of faith I can imagine. Used it a lot in improv workshops.
This is a beautiful piece MaryAnn. Congratulations on the book proposal. I really resonated with your father's quote. As a father, with two perfectionist-leaning adult daughters (have no idea where they get it from) I often need to just be their ever-present cheerleader. I truly believe that loving others unconditionally to the point that they have no doubt about it, is the greatest gift we can give.
Thank you so much for reading!!
Ever-present cheerleader--I love it.
Loved and really needed these words. Thank you!
Congratulations on your new contract, MaryAnn! I resonate with everything you wrote about writing. Thanks for always sharing your wise and wonderful words!
Kathy
Kathy! Thank YOU for paving so much of the way of this pastor/writer life!
Truth spoken here!
Thank you for reading!
I think integrating is a great idea Sometimes it's very frustrating when you have to be flipping back and forth . What did she say there that goes with here. Freedom can't wait.
It's a great point... and as I was writing this article I was thinking "why did I even think version one would work?!?" Because rough draft, that's why! lol Thanks for commenting.
I loved this inside look at your process, and how difficult it truly is to write. As someone who is trying to (maybe) write a book for the first time, it is so valuable and normalizing. I too had that romantic vision of a writer in my mind that you described and it is so helpful to hear that's false, because otherwise I'm prone to think there's something wrong with me!! Also, congratulations on the book deal!
Thank you Christine! And happy writing!!
Maryann, I would like to add the quotation from your father's letter to you in my "inspiration file" of wise words to remember. However, I only want to do that if I can cite his name with it, so that if and when I quote it to friends or family, I can give him credit. Would you mind telling me his name? (I will save it either way, but would love to be able to share it with a friend or two, and I would only do that if I could include his name with it.) Thank you so much for sharing this column. I found it incredibly helpful. Thank you, Bonnie Favorite
Bonnie, nothing would make my siblings and me happier than to know our late father lives on in the wisdom he shared not only with us, but with the wider world. Jim McKibben.
This echoes loudly for me, in a new leadership role within an organization I left not by choice years ago. Thank you!
Wow! TBTG for echoes. <3