I dialed her number as soon as I scanned her email. “Great balls of fire!” I greeted her (well, something like that).
The relief in her voice was apparent, “I didn’t know if I should forward the email to you, but then I thought, ‘Yes, she’s my friend.’”
My writing buddy, Lydia Brownback, has just been nominated as a finalist for the 2021 book awards by The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Think Academy Awards for Christian authors. (ECPA is an international organization representing the work of twenty-six Christian publishers.)
I, on the other hand, have recently received a book proposal rejection; my friend wanted to be sensitive to my fresh pain.
But would refusing to celebrate her triumph aid in mending my broken heart? And didn’t she just ignore her impending writing deadline to sit and mourn with me? As Ecclesaistes 3 says,
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens . . . a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
So I thank You, Father, for giving me the gift of a writing buddy to mourn and to celebrate with. May all our tears and all our triumphs bring You glory and make us more like Your beautiful Son, our future Bridegroom.
PS: Click here to order Lydia Brownback’s first-in-the-series, award-winning Bible study, “Esther: The Hidden Hand of God.”
Paula (Hendricks) Marsteller is a compassionate, bold Christian communicator offering you gospel hope, thought-provoking questions, and practical help along the way.
