LEARNING TO WALK

 

My last two blog posts have been about celebrating anniversaries and there was one more anniversary this month. Perhaps the biggest celebration of all. A couple of weeks ago we celebrated the first anniversary of being grandparents, as our darling grandson reached his first birthday. We had a lovely bee-themed celebration with close family and friends. Little man had little idea of what all the fuss was about, but appreciated his bee cake and his favourite present – a mini broom and dustpan set!

We are really privileged to be closely involved in our grandson’s life and it is a joy to watch him grow and develop. He has a unique character and a unique language, and his own ways of getting what he wants! Like most one- year- olds he has first teeth appearing, but he has yet to take his first steps unaided. That is not to say  that he isn’t trying to walk. He definitely is on a mission to do so and he is up on his feet as much as possible. Watching him learn to walk has inspired me to compare it to how we as writers actually get words down on the page.

     He holds on to objects, pulling himself up on furniture, using his walker, and even his highchair to walk around the room.

As writers there are many 'things' that can help us write. Reading books, using word tools like dictionaries, googling interesting facts and calling it research. We might use music or the inspiration of the natural world to get us into the right frame of mind to write. Some have the gift of a dedicated writing space; others just need a cup of coffee, or two. Oh and cake… cake always helps.

        He holds on to people, reaching up his hand to take yours, or climbing up to stand clinging to your knees. He walks really well just holding onto one hand now, especially if he has his toy broom in the other hand!

As a relatively new author, I cannot underestimate how much I owe to other people. Of course I am blessed to have a publishing team. But in terms of actually getting words on to the page  - it has been the people I have messaged for help or encouragement, the prayers I know have been prayed for me, the community, especially of other writers, who just get it. I have the ACW to thank for many of those precious contacts.

-          He is determined to walk. Especially when he sees something he wants, or in response to the smile on our faces. He loves walking toward his parents especially. Our boy has been designed by God to walk, and he will do it, sooner rather than later. It is his natural inclination.

Are we determined to do what the Creator has created us to do? I like to think that those of us who write do so because we have been created and designed to. It is what we naturally want to do, and actually we are quite good at it. But discouragement and self-doubt can often derail us. Perhaps if we determine to look up to see the smile on our Father’s face, or look ahead to what our writing could do for others. Perhaps if we are determined to do what we have been made to do – then with His help, a few things to support us, a hand or two to hold on to, we can walk into being the writers He has called us to be.

Joy Margetts has loved writing for as long as she can remember. A retired nurse, mother of two, and a new grandparent, she also has a lifelong interest in history. She makes her home on the beautiful North Wales coast.

Her debut novel 'The Healing', a work of historic fiction, was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021. Joy has also self published a short novella, 'The Beloved' as both a companion to 'The Healing', and as an easy to read standalone story, which is available on Amazon Kindle.

Her second full - length novel, 'The Pilgrim', is due to be published by Instant Apostle in July 2022

More information on Joy and her writing, and her personal blog, can be found here www.joymargetts.com

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