It's a Blog Story...
Back in the winter of 2017, I started journaling as a means to cope with depression and suicidal thoughts. I had never enjoyed writing. In fact, I hated writing and reading due to my delayed processing from Autism. Yet, in that season of desperation and doubt, I picked up a journal my oldest sister had bought for me one Christmas and started to write down my honest thoughts, prayers, and petitions to the Lord. Before I realized it, writing became my therapy and a means for me to approach Heaven's Throne of Grace. But it became more than just a means to survive. It became my passion, my ministry, and my legacy.
Soon after I started journaling, a friend of mine lost someone to suicide. As she shared with me her loss, she asked me, "Why would anyone commit suicide?" At that moment, I had no answer for her. My mind continued to ponder her question though, and I asked God for an answer. Suddenly, He gave me one. But it was more than an idea. It was a story titled What Is Life?
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That evening, I stayed up late and woke up early the next morning to type His story. It was only three pages long, but I strived to make every letter count. When it was finished, I emailed it to my friend. About 30-minutes later, she messaged me: "Holy sh*t, Emily, did you write this? Even if you didn't, I'm in tears. Wow, that is incredible. Love you so much."
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Those words did something inside of me. Though I sent that story in hopes of encouraging her, I assumed it was awful because I had never written anything like that before. Yet, to my surprise, I amazed and blessed her heart. It was my friend's tears that day which got me hooked to writing and made me think, "I want to do that again!"
I started dabbling more in journaling and writing short stories. In the fall of 2017, I discovered wix.com and created a blog site for fun. However, I kept this blog site a secret because I feared what others might think.
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In the spring of 2018, I started to share my website with a few individuals. One friend told me, “Oh my gosh. I LOVE THIS. You’re seriously so inspirational, Em.” After her encouragement, I published my blog and shared with the world my secret hobby of writing.
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Since then, God has continued to give me stories to write. What started as I means to cope with life has grown into a ministry platform. In a way, the testimonies of God's comfort in my life have become a means to encourage others with the same comfort I have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). I have been humbled and overjoyed by the many individuals have told me how much my blogs have impacted their lives for the better.
In Broadway's Hamilton, the main protagonist Alexander makes this final statement, "Legacy. What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see." Through my writings - my journals, stories, and blogs - I am recording a legacy. Yet, my prayer is that it is not my legacy.
These words are the aftermath of the penmanship of the Author of my story. He has intentionally scribbled every syllable and character in the pages of my life. He has written purpose and life into this dead tree. Though my form was cracked, torn, scorched, and imperfect in any and every manner, He cracked open my cover and started writing a love story of how the Author, The Word of Life, loved this empty book so much He redeemed it and transformed it from nothingness into His Legacy.
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May all glory be forever given to Jesus Christ, amen!
