This piece is full of treasures. I too feel a lack of margin, a scarcity paired with guilt that it's self-induced because I constantly fail to say no. Thank you for sharing Malcolm Guite's response to your beautiful question.
I totally hear you about the issue not being through lack of ideas or motivation but the lack of time and margin. I love that your husband knows that writing is essential to who you are. Hope you get some more sleep soon.
I'm so glad you're still writing, fighting for every word. Praying you can get some sleep! I know how that feels--our third son was extremely colicky and we basically didn't sleep for the first 21 months of his life.
I know I don’t know you as well as your husband (duh!), but I agree with him. Not only can you not stop writing, but you won’t stop writing. It is as much apart of you as being a mother is. I am so thankful for the gift of your words as I am working out how to write through my own crisis of faith.
You are a wonderful mother and writer. I spent ten years working as an assistant with special needs students, and many of the children with autism had difficulty sleeping and had very tired parents who continued to do the next thing necessary. I am grateful for your words and know that you bless many who struggle with your same battles, letting them know they are not alone. God bless you!
It strikes me that you have been given a certain set of circumstances and a gift for words and that isn’t a coincidence. You have the ability to speak into situations like yours with eloquence and to meet a need in the world. Keep writing to shine the light, but more importantly keep living each day, heroically doing those small tasks that only God sees.
Oh man. Leave it to Malcolm Guite to gently turn us from a great, Lewis, to a greater, the Psalms. I remember a study of the Psalms a few years back, and our pastor deliberately taking a whole message on Psalm 88, the one song that doesn’t end on a high note—it’s pure lament. It’s so comforting to know it’s there. Keep writing, Heather! I’m glad you have such a staunch advocate in Tyson!
My own tears are streaming. Deep calls to deep, and I think I can hear at least some of the unsaid things in that sentence. Your words are a gift to me whenever they come, and even more so because I know that they are hard-won. (But also, man, do I wish I could have sat with you and Karen last night!)
This is a great reminder. Also, the existential crises caused by banana peels and other piddly things are so very real. I’m glad to receive this encouraging post today; very glad you are writing, Heather.
Oh my GOD, I loved this. I hardly like anything I’m reading on substack anymore. It’s distant. Words without heart. But then here you are, with THIS! It’s brilliant. It’s heart and art and beautifully crafted. It made me FEEL something, at 7:30 am and I don’t even have my glasses on yet, so I’m typing this with blurry eyes, and I read it squinting, but it was so brilliant that I kept going without stopping to put the glasses on. Please don’t ever stop writing. You are a freaking hero to me for that post.
Very insightful, Heather!
This piece is full of treasures. I too feel a lack of margin, a scarcity paired with guilt that it's self-induced because I constantly fail to say no. Thank you for sharing Malcolm Guite's response to your beautiful question.
I totally hear you about the issue not being through lack of ideas or motivation but the lack of time and margin. I love that your husband knows that writing is essential to who you are. Hope you get some more sleep soon.
Thank you for being here, even when the embers dwindle. I don't have adequate words to express my appreciation for your encouragement.
You can't give up. You must write through the hard. Keep. Writing.❤️
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement, J.J.!
Thank you for this! Thank you for persevering. Your words are a gift to us.
I'm so glad you're still writing, fighting for every word. Praying you can get some sleep! I know how that feels--our third son was extremely colicky and we basically didn't sleep for the first 21 months of his life.
Ooh this was so good. Especially the way you described the thought processes of one's mind when not sleeping... So relatable!
I know I don’t know you as well as your husband (duh!), but I agree with him. Not only can you not stop writing, but you won’t stop writing. It is as much apart of you as being a mother is. I am so thankful for the gift of your words as I am working out how to write through my own crisis of faith.
You are a wonderful mother and writer. I spent ten years working as an assistant with special needs students, and many of the children with autism had difficulty sleeping and had very tired parents who continued to do the next thing necessary. I am grateful for your words and know that you bless many who struggle with your same battles, letting them know they are not alone. God bless you!
It strikes me that you have been given a certain set of circumstances and a gift for words and that isn’t a coincidence. You have the ability to speak into situations like yours with eloquence and to meet a need in the world. Keep writing to shine the light, but more importantly keep living each day, heroically doing those small tasks that only God sees.
Oh man. Leave it to Malcolm Guite to gently turn us from a great, Lewis, to a greater, the Psalms. I remember a study of the Psalms a few years back, and our pastor deliberately taking a whole message on Psalm 88, the one song that doesn’t end on a high note—it’s pure lament. It’s so comforting to know it’s there. Keep writing, Heather! I’m glad you have such a staunch advocate in Tyson!
My own tears are streaming. Deep calls to deep, and I think I can hear at least some of the unsaid things in that sentence. Your words are a gift to me whenever they come, and even more so because I know that they are hard-won. (But also, man, do I wish I could have sat with you and Karen last night!)
This is a great reminder. Also, the existential crises caused by banana peels and other piddly things are so very real. I’m glad to receive this encouraging post today; very glad you are writing, Heather.
I agree with Tyson and so many many others. You can't give up writing. All in God's hands. Every word.
Thank you for sharing the warmth of a humble fire with me, Karen. I loved seeing you last night!
This resonates. Thank you.
So grateful. Thank you for reading, Jeannie.
Oh my GOD, I loved this. I hardly like anything I’m reading on substack anymore. It’s distant. Words without heart. But then here you are, with THIS! It’s brilliant. It’s heart and art and beautifully crafted. It made me FEEL something, at 7:30 am and I don’t even have my glasses on yet, so I’m typing this with blurry eyes, and I read it squinting, but it was so brilliant that I kept going without stopping to put the glasses on. Please don’t ever stop writing. You are a freaking hero to me for that post.