It seems that once or twice a year, I wonder why I’m still writing this blog.   The truth is, I often wonder if I’m writing it for the right purpose.  As soon as I see my ratings drop, I can’t help thinking that I’m being selfish in continuing.   I’ve been blogging for about 7 years.  It was an offshoot of some inspirational quotes I was posting on Facebook, along with a creative desire to write.  In a way, I was keeping a journal of my daily living and finding something in each day that might help someone else to get through theirs. 

I started writing when I first learned how to actually form sentences and wrote my first full length musical play when I was twelve.  I thought it was phenomenal.  It was the story of a prince who becomes a member of the working class. He falls in love with a commoner and we all know the end of that story.  It consisted of songs, magnificent costumes, a cast of hundreds and words that went on and on.  I was so proud of myself as I turned it in to be graded by my eighth grade teacher.  He took one look at the size of the manuscript and said, “This is much more than I asked for and definitely not something we could do in our classroom.”  I was crushed.  In fact I didn’t write another thing for a couple years. 

When I got over myself, I let the muse loose and started to write again.  I’ve written over a hundred plays and skits, three unfinished novels, many children’s stories, a memoir, articles, a screenplay or two, commercials and dabbled in poetry.  I’m not saying this to impress anyone.  The only things I ever published were my memoir, “Stages,” which was self published and an article for Chicken Soup For the Soul.  I have a fear of rejection, so most of my work is stuffed away in a loose leaf binder or on a memory stick.  

In writing a blog, I saw an opportunity to share my love for my Savior with others – to show them that if God was interested in me and my failures, he certainly would listen to them and give them answers, comfort, guidance or all of the above.  I’m not a qualified teacher of God’s Word.  My words are often clumsy and not well thought out in advance.  When I’ve written without editing, I immediately pick up on mistakes once the piece has been published.  Some times I express my political views, while other times I address things like parenting, aging, humor, entertainment and art.

So this weekend, I decided to take a vacation from blogging indefinitely.  When we went to church and enjoyed some fellowship with others after the service, my husband relayed the information about my blog to one of our members.  We talked a lot about how important it is for us to share the things that are “really” going on in our lives with fellow believers, so that we can lift each other up and encourage one another in all those trials.  Maybe this is what God wants me to do. 

As Paul and I talked yesterday about growing older and not being able to physically serve in the church as we did when we were younger, I suggested that our time of serving might be over, but our time of grace was still available.  That thought stuck with me through the day, and I realize that this blog needs to continue – not for my glory, but so that God can be magnified and others will see how He can change lives.

So, you’re stuck with me.  I may not be around for another seven years, but I guess you’ll be seeing me – Kathy Boecher at atimetoshare.me for a little longer.