God Speaks at She Speaks
Once upon a time, not so long ago, a Girl moved from the Land of Palm Trees and Sea Shores to the Land of Horse Farms and Rolling Hills. She moved away from her home, her church and her friends, and she missed them very much. The Land of Horse Farms and Rolling Hills was quite nice, and soon she found a new home, a new church and some new friends—but it wasn’t quite the same.
The Girl was lonely.
During the day, her husband went off to his new job. He loved his new job very much. And the Girl became a little jealous, because she didn’t have a new job to love. But she did have three beautiful babies, and she loved the babies very much. While one baby went to kindergarten, another baby napped. So the Girl took those lonely hours and wrote a book about her other baby who died. She dreamed some day she would be able to help other Girls whose babies had also died.
The Girl wrote and wrote and wrote. The Girl missed her baby. She missed the Land of Palm Trees and Sea Shores. And the Girl was still very lonely.
When the book was all done, the Girl took it far away to another city so she could meet with some nice people who might transform her dream into a reality. She didn’t know what else to expect in this other city. But she was certain God led her there.
The Girl went to lots of workshops and listened to lots of authors talk about their own dreams becoming reality. And during those workshops, God whispered to the Girl,
“You are a writer. I created you to do this. When you write, I smile.”
And the Girl smiled, too.
At night the Girl attended a wonderful meeting. A meeting about The Enemy, The Lies, The Truth and The Cross. And that night the Girl cried out to God about her loneliness. And she wrote on a little piece of paper,
“I feel so alone.”
And then she nailed that little piece of paper to a large wooden cross at the front of the room. She cried and cried and cried, because she felt so alone. Surrounded by hundreds of other women, the Girl was still lonely.
Then she slowly reached into a small basket. A basket filled with more little pieces of paper.
See, while the Girl was still in her new home writing her book, other Girls in this far away city were praying for the Girl. In fact, they were praying for this very night—that when the Girl would nail her little piece of paper to the Cross, God would respond to her on a new piece of paper.
The Girl slowly opened her new little piece of paper from God. And it said,
“No matter what happens I will not leave you. When you pass through the waters I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. Isaiah 43:2”
Again the girl cried and cried and cried. But, miraculously, the Girl was no longer lonely.
And the Girl took her piece of paper from God back to the Land of Horse Farms and Rolling Hills, and she taped the piece of paper to her computer, where she writes even today—knowing she makes God smile.
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The Girl is Moi.
The story is true.
The far away city is Concord, NC.
The event is the She Speaks conference for writers, speakers and bloggers, July 31-Aug 2, 2009
This Girl is headed back to meet some more nice people who might make her dream a reality. Will she see you there?
(Don’t click this picture. It takes you no where fast.. Instead, try the little blue words or the picture in the sidebar.)
Oh man!!! I so wish I could afford to go!!! This sounds amazing and like something I so totally need! Maybe next year.
By the way, shared your story in my small group last night and everybody was rocked to their core! It was a good night!
Thanks girl!!!
Hi! Thanks for the comment on my blog today!
I went to She Speaks last year too. What a wonderful experience. Hope this year is even more awesome for you!
Oh my goodness – I WANT TO COME SOOOOOO BAD! But the baby is due right around that time! I sooooo want to go next year. Enjoy it for me – I know it will be awesome!
Have a great rest of the week!
-Kate 🙂
What a great post, Sandy. Whether or not you or I win this scholarship, I hope we meet up in NC this summer.
I read the first comment someone that Summer wrote today and thought it was funny that I did the same exact thing.
We have small groups that meet every other week from our church, and after your first post of the series I cried and cried and cried. I then became angry for you. I recall talking to my husband in the car on the way to small group telling him that this is a major area of struggle for me. Why, oh why could God let something like this happen to a person with AMAZING faith??? People notices that I wasn’t my “normal” outgoing self at small group and I spilled it all while crying.
Your faith and willingness to share your amazing story and beautiful son, Noah, with us touches each and everyone of our hearts. I pray the conference goes well, and I am SO pulling for the book deal. You’re a great writer!
This is so beautiful and encouraging!
Where is the conference? Is it in NC? I live a couple of hours from you.
I’m so sorry about the loss of your child. :o( I can’t imagine.
Bless you Sister!
b
Sandy, I’m glad you are going back to this great conference. You’re going to get that book published! BTW, my mother-in-law wrote her first book at the age of 84. She had it with a publisher but finally gave up and we helped her self-publish her book. It will be available on Amazon within a week or so. I’ll have to blog about that. I wish I could go to She Speaks but right now, I kind of doubt it. But I will be praying about it. It would be such fun to meet many of my fellow bloggers in person, especially YOU!!!!
I would so love to meet you there, Sis…BTW totally believing for the book.
Oh wow! 🙂 How exciting! I’m gonna see if I can get there!!!! I live in NC ya know! 🙂 Hope you’re doing great, Sandy! 🙂
a
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL POST.I ENJOYED YOUR BLOG SO MUCH.HAVE A BKESSED DAY!
This is beautiful Sandy. From one former lonely girl to another 🙂
Hugs and have a blessed day!
Oh, and I started my entry a few days ago and will post tomorrow. You are gonna laugh at how similarly we started!! I’m telling you, great minds think alike!! Love you!
….Maybe next year when I’m living in the Land of that Faraway City.
I’m sure you will have a blast and God will move again in you and through you.
Love you bunches!
Unfortunately I can not attend this year. I have several traveling events (Wedding, Minstries, Retreats, Family stuff, etc.) to add one more thing BUT…I’m hopeful for next year. I’ve never been but ALL that I have heard has been remarkable. I know it will be amazing time in the Lord.
Love you sweet sister!
I love your writing style! It is beautiful to hear the impact that last year’s She Speaks had on you. I hope I get to meet you this year!
Lynn
Sandy,
Thanks for the note, what you are speaking on is very important. After reading this, I am starting to think that while I do not have the dpression that you do, that I may infact suffer from mild bi-polar. Yes, I have an appointment with my gp to discuss this very thing.
Please keep telling your story it needs to be heard. You are holding up a mirror for us to look not at you, but at ourselves in.
Sallye
Reading your account of last year’s She Speaks conference makes me drowned in my own tears all over again as I relive a very similar experience. I wish I could go back again this year, but I just don’t see it happening. Thanks for sharing this… I needed to be reminded of that time and I will be praying for all those attending this year!
Sandy, your honest and open writing touches me every time. Thanks for going through all the trouble to post so many relevant info on your Blog. I keep learning about things I’ve never hear of, like this conference, and I wish I could go too (all the way from Oregon)
Heleen
Okay, you win. Unfortunately I have no say so in the matter, but, if I did? You’d totally be going to She Speaks for free. :)))
It was great meeting you in Houston. Just found out our church mission trip is scheduled for She Speaks so it’s unlikely I’ll get to go but I’ll certainly be praying those dreams of yours come true! :))