Last week, I signed a two-book contract with Tyndale Momentum.
Flash, the Donkey - The Stray Burro Who Taught Me about Life, Faith and Second Chances, is really going to be a book! With pages and everything!
Notice how much self-discipline I had in limiting my use of exclamation points to just one each in the above sentences? Because I really wanted to use about ten!!!!!!!!!!
Can I tell you what a thrill it is to see my name on this line? Let me tell you, it's a thrill.
I am so very excited to be with Tyndale. The process of deciding on the *right* publisher for this unique story was not easy. I ended up with five offers, all from major publishers, all with great possibilities. I fell in love with each of them as we conferenced and talked about how to make this book a reality. But my acquisition editor at Tyndale was so passionate, had such amazing ideas and was such a champion, that in the end the choice was clear. Flash has a new home. And he is getting his own book. I couldn't be happier.
May I share something personal with you?
Signing this contract was a long, long time in coming for me. There was a lot of waiting. Seven years of blogging. Fifteen years of bootstrapping. Twenty-six years of mothering. Fifty years of life experience. Lots of failures, lots of dreams, and many fluctuations in weight. Several hairstyles, not all of them flattering. I regret that.
There has been no overnight success. Just a lot of work - and faith and hope - to get here. And plenty of waiting.
But God was in the waiting. He always is.
I think of others who waited: David, Sarah, Abraham, Joseph and Hannah, just to name a few. The Bible is filled with characters who waited on God's timing for the right moment. In fact, most of our beloved stories involve some kind of waiting.
I've learned a few things as I've waited.
Waiting matures you.
Waiting gives time for your vision to develop.
Waiting gives you a chance to prepare.
Waiting means that you must trust God on His timing.
Waiting is part of God's process.
Maybe you are waiting, cooling your heels, wondering when, and if, THAT THING will ever happen for you. Maybe you're thinking God's forgotten all about you. Or maybe He's not even in this thing anymore. You're getting tired of the process.
I can assure you: He has not forgotten you. He is preparing you, writing your story, giving you time to mature and prepare. And He will show you if you need to alter your course. He's not going to let you down.
In the meantime, trust Him. He is in your waiting.
Psalm 37:7 says: Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.
I love this.
Rest, wait, draw near. And in the meantime, work and prepare and hope and trust. His timing is always perfect, His plans are always for good, His ways are always higher than ours. His love is infinite, and His grace unceasing. Never doubt that.
Don't let the waiting keep you from experiencing all He has for you today, in this moment, right now. He is here.
Are you tired of waiting? Feeling impatient? I get that. What are you waiting on, and how can I pray for you?
