Hold Your Place

Recently, I had to pause several of my plans to help family. I got behind in my writing goals for the year. I kept doing basic social media posts, but that’s about it. My writing slowed and then stopped as I struggled to stay afloat. One morning, as I looked over my blank planning calendar, I felt a tremendous sense of discouragement.

What happened? How could I have messed up so spectacularly?

I filled in what I had done the weeks before. Doctor visits, babysitting, family obligations, and church. Had I failed? God called me to write, but He also calls me to care for my family. To reach out to people around me with love. While I filled in my planner, I prayed for God to show me where I could fit writing into my schedule again. I may not have moved forward with my goals for the year, I certainly hadn’t failed.

I’d held my place.

I hadn’t given up on my goals, only paused. A bookmark, if you will, in life. Holding my place until I can get back at it.

To set a goal is good, to meet the goal is great, to lose sight of the goal or miss it, is human.

If your goals seem like a distant memory or they are fading into the background, don’t give up on them. Remind yourself that you’re human and sometimes life calls us in a different direction for a bit. Just like a good book with a bookmark where you left off, your writing will wait for you while you hold your place.

Jill Chapman resides in Southern Indiana with her husband of forty-four years. They enjoy their country lifestyle and visiting with their children and grandchildren. Her life centers around her family and her yellow lab, Indy. She is an avid movie watcher, loves Mexican food, and enjoys watercolor painting. Jill says her life is like a good plate of nachos, a tiny kick of spice, and a whole lotta cheese.