When I began edits on my novel a couple months ago, I started at chapter one, pen in hand, ready to take notes about what needed to be changed/eliminated/polished.
Not even halfway through the book I was nauseated, with pages and pages of my failures spread before me. I saw my story as worthless. Unredeemable. Messed up. Embarrassing.
I gave up.
Thankfully my family and friends wouldn’t stop asking me about it… so I slightly grudgingly promised to clean it up enough so I could let them read it without me cringing and regretting my existence for every second afterwards. (Dramatic? Perhaps.)
I started edits again last week, this time with a different approach. Before coming in with the dynamite, I decided to first look through my story and note all the things I loved about it…
And suddenly I remembered how much I love the characters in my story. How certain scenes make me so happy that I come back over and over to read them again. How the dialogue makes me laugh.. How little details like descriptions, random sentences, and tiny references to things in my own life bring a smile to my face.
Somehow, I’m now excited to keep working on this book.
It’s the same story. Just a different outlook.
Sometimes life is overwhelming, and I see my life story as worthless. Unredeemable. Messed up. Embarrassing.
I want to give up.
But when I look at my life story and look for bits of beauty and purpose…
I remember how much I love the people in my life. How certain moments of my life make me so happy that I come back over and over to think about them again. How conversations make me laugh or stop to think. How little details like sunrises, cozy hugs, and reminders of God’s purpose and love for me bring a smile to my face.
Then somehow, I become excited to keep living this life.
It’s the same story. Just a different outlook.
It’s my choice. I can look for the trials, the pain, the flaws in my life and become nauseated. Or I can look for the beauty that laces each day of this life and keep walking with purpose.
I choose the latter.
Laurel Luehmann 
This is really great, Laurel! Thank you for the reminder!
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Thank you, Abby! Of course.:)
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Oh, Laurel, this is amazing! I love the analogy. I think I need to read this every single day for the rest of my life…. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you… I’m so glad! You’re welcome.:)
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That’s a battle I’ve faced many times. I haven’t always won, at least not initially. But by God’s grace, I come around to His way of thinking and make the right choice.
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Yes… that is so true. Without His grace, we would be completely lost in life!
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This is such a great comparison, Laurel! I’m guilty of falling into this trap when I try to plan my life out … but I really should take your way of looking at it. It’s a different perspective. This is so inspiring – thank you for this reminder! 🤗🌻
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So glad it was a blessing, Makayla!😊
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