An Enriched Life by Ruth Smith Meyer

After almost a year’s pause in opportunities for such, I had two opportunities for speaking engagements in two weeks.   Since the past year has been one of adjustment after the death of my second husband, I wondered how it would go. I needn’t have worried.  It felt good to be once more sharing from my growth.

This also gave me opportunity to pause and reflect on the changes writing has brought to my life in the last fifteen years. Writing in a more intentional way was a dream I had from childhood.  After the death of my first husband, I began with an assignment for a week’s worth of devotions for the REJOICE! magazine.  When I had good response from those, I ventured out with a few magazine articles then with a burst of courage, began working on a novel that had been percolating for a few years. 

That was an entirely new undertaking.  I will always be grateful for the help and coaching I got through several avenues—The Word Guild, WRITE conferences and Ray and Anna Wiseman. The writing was a joy.  Even the editing and rewriting and rewriting I found rewarding.  The folks at Word Alive were very helpful in the process.  I was happy for the relationships built in during that time.  

I wasn’t young any more, but I was a newbie where publication and selling of books was concerned. I was nervous, awed and elated when the first shipment of Not Easily Broken actually arrived on my doorstep.   As many writers, I enjoy writing more than selling, but it is part of who a writer has to be.  I began with a book launch, then took opportunities at bazaars, church and public events where I could display my book and sell some. 

Much to my surprise, my writing also was the means of fulfilling another childhood dream—

one I thought to be unattainable. That dream was to be an inspirational speaker. In the church of my childhood, women speaking in public was not a possibility.  However, people began asking if I would come and speak about some issues in my book and then make the book available to those in attendance.

Not Far from the Tree, a sequel to my first book, was published a few years later, then Tyson’s Sad Bad Day.   The latter was another new experience, for it branched into children’s literature and stretched my horizons as I toiled over illustrating the story. Each book its own way, continued to urge me to keep growing. Yes, growth can be painful, but it is also most satisfying.  

Being involved in the Hot Apple Cider anthologies, was also a growing experience. My Ready Writers group in London had already helped me appreciate good editing and those series did more of the same.  NJ Lindquist and Wendy Nelles encouraged me to keep tweeking my contributions until they were all they could be.  It makes me proud to be part of these books. 

Out of the Ordinary was another new experience.  My own life happenings, first meant for only family, then shared with the larger public, opened a whole other level of connection.  At first I felt quite vulnerable, but soon found a depth and richness to the relationship I developed with my readers. 

It was through writing and being a part of our Ready Writers Writer’s Group and the Hot Apple Cider Series that I met Ruth Coghill and had the opportunity to be on her radio program. 

Good Grief People, too has touched my own heart and those of readers in a different way than the other books. Again, my world has been enlarged and I give thanks. 

Every time a speaking opportunity comes along, I meet more individuals and get to hear their stories as well. And that’s where the third dream of my childhood is fulfilled—meeting a lot of people, getting to know them, understand them and to hear how their lives were lived. I do love people! ☺

Finding out that readers identify with the characters in my stories or with the tales of my childhood provides an instant connection. It makes me feel close to them. To hear that my writing has encouraged readers to reach for their best, to have the courage to share their growth, or to face some challenge is such a thrilling reward.  

Writing certainly has enriched my life. As long as God gives me the ability to do so, I shall continue. If I can encourage some others to write, the benefits will go on. 

Awards and Rewards by Ruth Smith Meyer

Everyone likes awards. My children must have taken after me, for although they loved sports and physical activities, they didn’t excel enough to capture any awards or anything near to it. It wasn’t for lack of trying.

Our son was born with a curved spine that cut off the strength and feeling when he put his weight on his left foot. We sought attention when he was small but were told we were over-protective parents and he would grow out of it. By the time his real problem was discovered at eleven or twelve, it had seriously affected his coordination. When his school class was given skating lessons one winter, he was far behind in every lap across the rink because he was restricted to pumping with one leg only. Instead of giving up, he asked me to make a slow-moving vehicle sign to hang on his back. He had others laughing with him instead of at him.

I always remember one of my daughters who set cross-country running as a goal for herself. She practiced faithfully in her attempts to prepare herself for the big race. I was there to cheer for her as she crossed the line in something like 45th place. I readied myself to console her and praise her for trying. I couldn’t have been more proud of her when she came panting to me, excitement and satisfaction in her tone, saying, “Mom that’s a lot better than I did last time!” Even though neither had received an award, they both obtained rewards.

When we design our resume or bio, we note our educational degrees, our accomplishments and awards in an attempt to prove our competence and that we are worthy of what we seek. It’s nice, as writers, to be recognized for our writing. We often hear how much it helps to sell books if we have one of those Award Winning stickers to put on the covers of our books. If we want to continue writing, those can be helpful, for it is necessary to sell books, especially if we want to earn our bread and butter that way.

That’s the way it is with awards.

Rewards perhaps share some of the same qualities, but there is a depth to rewards that go so much further than awards. As writers who are Christian, we are humbled and deeply thankful when we are used in helping others to find their way in life’s tests or to find God faithful in trials.

To hear that someone remembers a line or an experience about which you wrote and that it has changed their outlook or helped in challenges they face, isn’t something you can put in a resume or bio, but it is certainly rewarding. To know that your writing has changed a person from grumbling at their lot in life to being thankful for their blessings doesn’t sell a dozen books but it is a real bonus. To be told that a book has helped someone find their Rock in Jesus Christ, maybe doesn’t bring in the dollars, but is infinitely rewarding.

Just recently, when I was facing a personal challenge, someone quoted a line from one of my own books to encourage me! I had to smile, even while I took it to heart. It really did give clarity to my situation!

This week I received an email from a person who read an article I had published last spring. It had touched a heart long after I had expected to get any feedback, and I felt again, a sense of calling to share my stories—even those that make me vulnerable and are a little difficult to share—so that someone else can be comforted and encouraged. I felt rewarded and challenged at the same time.

Maybe that is the difference in rewards—they confirm our calling and urge us on in our ministry. “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn,” says Romans 11:29 NLT or as the Message puts it, “God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded.”

So write on!