My Children are Unimpressed

It’s funny that my kids are not impressed the fact that their mother has published a long list of novels. I’m not a famous doctor or multi-millionaire who owns corporations or a private jet. Maybe those would garner attention?

I doubt it. I’m Mom. I’m the one who was always there, making meals, picking them up from school, cheering them on in their sports endeavors.

Some people are impressed but it’s usually followed with “I’ve always wanted to write a book.”

“Great!” I reply. “You should do it.”

I’ve met with people who want to know how. If I were to inundate them with all the things they need to now to be published they’d never write a word. I tell them to write the story on their heart. Whatever it is. Then they can decide what they want to do with it.

I thought I knew how to write when I wrote my first book. Boy was I wrong! I learned so much through the process of those first few books. It’s humbling. I’m still learning. Sometimes I try something new but it flops with my editor and I have to go back and rewrite. There are skills I’ve haven’t mastered yet as well as I’d like to. I am also an editor, so I try to help my authors get to those next steps as well. Hopefully, every book I write is better than the last one.

Recently some people at church have realized that I’m an author and they are starting to read my books. I’m still Susan to them. They enjoy the stories and that is so sweet to hear their comments. I’m not a celebrity though. The work I’ve done conveys no special honor in my church family. There are a few who are honored to be my close friends and have encouraged me on my writing journey through the years.

When my first book hit the best-seller list at number one shortly after publication it was surreal. It lasted a week and only because the publisher dropped the price. Basically it only sold more than the other books out there that week. I realized then that it was an illusion.

Will my children ever realize the hard work I’ve done? Will they ever even read one of my books and be amazed that their Mom wrote them? I often read something I’ve written and been amazed. Not that I’m so great, but that God allowed me to write it. I am fully aware that the gift of telling the stories I do, are from Him. He is the One who I pray will guide my imagination as I seek to write stories that will not only entertain but also encourage or challenge people, that there will be a heart impact. That their faith would be stronger because of the story. I’m often blessed by the words as well which makes me more aware of the spiritual nature of my work.

So maybe I will not be a famous author or my name lauded on the New York Bestsellers list. That’s OK because I write out of obedience to God. Maybe someday my kids will appreciate that even more than the books they’ll be left with after I’m gone someday. Will my children stay unimpressed or become impressed?