dear emily,
i think my motives were right when i began this blog. they
were "to encourage young moms to love their husbands and
children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home
and to be kind." titus 2:4
somewhere along the way, i lost my way. this became my
wonderland, and like alice, i lingered. to be perfectly frank,
i made an idol of it, neglecting and hurting the people i hold
most dear. that grieves me greatly.
it is the Lord's mercy that He revealed my heart with such
kindness, and i am grateful that "he redeems my life from the
pit and crowns me with love and compassion." psalm 103:4
until He shows me a safe way to continue, i will be taking a
break from writing here, but i will still visit those of you who
have become dear to me.
if you are a young mom, go back and read my earlier posts.
their content is richer than the recent ones. you may even
see where i lost my way.
love,
lea
37 comments:
Sometimes taking a break is just what we need to be refreshed and refocused on our purpose. I can identify with how a blog can somehow take over priorities, and it's a wise thing to step back and do some soul searching. I must say, however, that your words have inspired me, so please consider all the good you have done for others as you've shared your heart in this forum.
Stay in touch....
Debi
Thank you for such an honest post. I have been searching God for direction in my blogging. I am very new to it and have enjoyed the outlet it has been so far. I can see how it can become far more time consuming than it should. Your honesty has given me insight into my own blogging experience. I will check out your earlier post, although I have been blessed by the recent ones too. Hope to see you back soon. God can still use you in this capacity. Carla
You didn't have an email I could find so here I am writing to you on your site. I am not a mom of young children but still have a teenage son and I have been encouraged by your posts and in fact the one yesterday was an eye opener for me. Because you have produced fruit, it is hard for me to believe God has not called you to this ministry. Because you are struggling with it, I believe God has revealed something in you, that He thinks bears changing. Is it something in His ministry or something in your heart. That is for you to discover. "You can do all things through Him who strengthens you".
Don't through the baby out with the bath water.
In Christian Love, Jeannie
i commend you for this. i think all of us gals have a tendency to become obsessive with blogging. i appreciate your raw honesty. i selfishly hope you'll come back. you are like my long lost mentor. : )
Thank you for sharing this. If you feel your blog has lost its way, you are right to take a break to regroup. Good luck and I look forward to your return!
Really? Oh dear! Hope that the time away brings clarity and refreshing and a repurposing. As always, it is terribly important to lean on the Lord and do or not do just as He leads. I'd be very surprised if He's leading you away from "My Letters to Emily" for long, but I am NOT God. All good things, my friend...
Hi Lea, I am a recent person to your blog---but I thought your info and suggestions and thoughts to Emily (and others) was GREAT... So---I don't know how you think you went wrong, but I think you did great. I will miss your posts.
Hugs,
Betsy
Awww Lea....your honestly just spoke to my heart, and when I have a good bit of time I am going to go and read all of your earlier post...because this SAHM could use all the encouragement she can get. Thank you for ever finding my blog, which in turn led me to yours. ((hugs))
I totally understand your need to step back, but this makes me sad.
Praying that God will refresh your spirit.
I'm just found your blog, but I understand the reason for stepping back to do as the Lord directs you. Take care and God bless you as you search His will for you.
Oh, and I just discovered your blog too. But you know what is right and I wish you all the best!
Why can't you have a "wonderland" too? As well as do good, with your blogging?
Why not? Aren't you deserving of some blogging fun?
Come on, of course you are. Make a second blog, if that would feel better to/for you. Keep this one, to do the good, you set out to do.
But please, make one for your fun! For taking some photos of pretty flowers in your garden, perhaps. Or of anything which catches your fancy. Picture things, with photos if you like to take pics. Or picture things with words, if you prefer that. Or combine the two!
Fun my Dear! We all deserve fun. Fun restores us. Fun can even help us do our duties, with more vigor. :-)
Did you notice? I am a great believer in fun? Life gives us plenty of the opposite-of-fun. We need balance. We need to give ourselves balance. Yes? No? Maybe?
:-)
i will miss you and your honesty :)
love,
kate
I thoroughly relate, which is why I've scarcely posted since August myself.
I'm so glad to have found you - or that you found me. :)
May God lead you as He sees fit my friend.
I'll be gone several days in early April and as much as I love my blog and the friends I now hold dear I'm looking forward to a break. I will return with a renewed spirit and refined focus.
May your sabbatical :) do the same for you!
Love, Rebecca
Nice , very lovely ..Loved the way you put forward a honest ..change u found then n now ...
will def read your past ..writing ..
they will surely be amazing..
Sometimes we have to back away and get centered again, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. We sometimes find ourselves a million miles away from the path we try to follow. I am sure with a little prayer God will get you back on track and you can bless us again with your wonderful posts. I know I'll miss them.
Hugs & Blessings
Well I have to say I completely understand where you are. I tend to be very sporadic at my writing because of the balance I'm trying to create, and the blog always falls to the back first. Oh well. I do enjoy the writing I get to do.
But I am sad that I just now found you! I love your honesty and transparency. I think I will go back and read some of your earlier posts just to get to know you.
I pray God's sweetest refreshment over you while you regroup. It's honorable to do so, but don't forget the many you minister to through your words! There is a line between a ministry of writing and a self-gratifying hobby. Let's just both be sure we're on the correct side, eh?
:-)
Blessings, Chel
Blogging: It is like a conversation...sometimes the talk is just friendly chatter, sometimes important information or uplifting, and sometimes we are just working out things in writing.
Sometimes it is a personal journal that others are invited to ready, and other times it is directed to others.
To every kind there seems to be a reason and a season. Love your thoughts and your comments.
I just met you, but I will miss you so much! Your blog is one of my very, very favorites! Hurry back, okay? I understand ... just feeling sorry for me.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Blessings ... abundant blessings, my dear new friend!
A kindred spirit~
Cheri
You reminded me of my need to reflect and redistribute the weight on my balance scale...time spent on the 'real' important things in life, rather than the trivial.
Take a break, but know that I'll be waiting for your return.
Lea:
I 'get' what you are saying. Blogging is such a blessing, but it can also become a distraction... as can anything.
BUT... I have so enjoyed visiting here, and your insight and thoughts are a delight!
You may have feel you diverted in your path, but maybe you have lots to say that is relevant, just not what your originally planned.
Anyway...
I'll ask God to direct you down HIS next path... and with the gift of expression He has given you... who knows??
You know where I am, so come and 'visit'...
Hugs!
Sonja
thanks, everybody! you each gave
me some great advice, but aunt
amelia's was the most fun!
aww sad...i will miss your post! Hopefully you can come back sometime! I am thankful tho for the Lord working in your heart to reveal idols...he is committed to you! I do want to go back and read some old post!
I have to add a P.S. Lea...
I went back and read some of your older posts this morning. They are worthy of being in a book! So much help in a few words, for young moms who need good experienced Godly counsel.
HAVE to say, I also agree with Aunt Amelia... you have much to share with US as well. Some fun and witty, but some thought provoking with real depth! I've seen it here and been blessed, so God is up to something with your writing.
I overdid the whole blog thing at first, and have scaled back on the amount of time I spend reading blogs, but some have become a genuine ministry to my own heart, as well as a fellowship, sharing hearts and prayers.
Long comment, but... I hope this is merely a new direction for you, not an ending.
Hugs!
Sonja
In the short amount of time that I have been following your blog, I have been deeply encouraged by your posts. I struggle with blogging often and my motives for it. Only you know what the Lord is laying on your heart but I am so pleased and thankful that He lead me to your blog and all that I've learned about Him here. Be blessed!
Sometimes we just need a break...He'll guide you...as he always does.
I agree, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. It is a beautiful gift and ministry you have. The Lord perfects what is His. Take care of business and priorities then let the Lord lead. Blessings. A
I will be perusing the archives and praying you return soon (in His timing, of course!).
As you said, the Lord's mercy revealed your heart. That's because you obviously listen to Him closely, Lea. He will let you know when it's time to resume. I'm convinced He is the Author of this ministry of yours.
I understand how easy it is to "lose your way" but I hope you will find your way back. You've been an encouragement to so many ... me included! I pray anyone who got hurt along the way will be understanding and forgiving because they surely know that wasn't your intention.
Keep singing!
Oh, I'm sad because I just found you. But I think that this word to be careful about what captures our hearts and masters us is an extremely precious and pertinent love letter to all wives and mothers (including me)in this day and age. I appreciate your faithfulness to follow your loving Master's voice and correction. "Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
'Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.'"
I will look forward to seeing how He leads, because I, myself, am learning that He is glad when we find joy and fulfillment in using our gifts. Life is such a careful balance. I guess that's why we need to guard our hearts so.
Lea, I have always appreciated the delightful writing in your blog. But as you know, I have been trying to work out the right balance for my own blogs so I understand. Rest with Lord in finding what is right for you and your ministry ... best wishes and love from across the seas ... I wish I was near enough to meet you in person.
I agree...taking a break is a good thing. I truly enjoy blogging and blog reading, but it does take time. I have tried not to do blogging on the weekends when he is home and limit that time during the week when he is home. Since our children are grown and at college, the week works better. But even then, I do well to get at least one post up a week, since my work schedule often times means I get home after my husband does.
I'm glad that I met you through your blog...Prayers for peace during this time.
Blessings & Aloha!(I just came back form a dental conference and straight into work, so blogging has been very limited here). I really appreciate you stopping by and love to read your comment-we are so blessed with the relationships our three children have. I wish I had more of that with my younger brother and sister, but with being married and living away since they were little, I did miss a lot with my brother and sister.)
...thanks for stopping by Farmhouse and leaving the kind words....
it means alot to me....
sending love,
kary
balance is always a challenge . no doubt you will do it with grace
For any of us who've been blogging for at least a year, we understand! God took me through my paces on this one, and we now have a good understanding regarding it all. Don't ever fear stepping away for a week or two or more should God direct. Real life happens on the real pavement of your everyday, and when the computer begins to look like more of a friend, then a real-live flesh and blood friend who stops by for some coffee, time to push away.
You'll find your balance; I'm certain of that. You've got a good thing here. It can be a both/and thing in your life.
Prayers and peace to you this weekend as you walk your Easter.
~elaine
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