Wings to Fly

I'm more convinced than ever that the greatest gift a person can give you is belief in your dreams. It's like having wings to fly.

When I met my husband David we were sixteen years old and I had already started to dream about writing. What I loved about him was his unwavering belief that I would some day be a publishes author. Neither of us knew what that road would look like, but we both believed it was possible.

Over the past sixteen years we dated, graduated from high school, went on to college, got married, started a business, bought a house, had our children and continued to dream together about the future.

In January of this year, my dream to finish my first novel, and dive into the publishing world, became a reality. Something clicked and I was ready to go after it. This wasn't the "perfect" time, as our twins were just turning two, but I realized that if I was going to do it, now was as good a time as any.

I know I'm preaching to the choir when I say this, but writing a book is hard work! I've had my ups and downs, but something kept lifting me higher and higher - something gave me wings to fly towards the impossible: my husband's belief in me.

There have been key moments when I know that God was using my husband as a mouth piece to proclaim life into my writing. One time was when I had my first semi-rejection. Through a compliment from a friend, there was also a criticism. That night I had tears in my eyes as I told my hubby what was said and that's when he told me: "Even if no one ever reads your words, keep writing. It was what you were born to do." The next day he bought me a writing desk. All I could do was put my arms around him and cry.

Another moment came when my one sentence hook was chosen by Randy Ingermanson as one of the best out of almost a thousand others submitted (he chose twenty-one). I squealed like crazy when I saw that email and my husband celebrated with me. If ever I've seen someone "beam" it was him that night. That's when he told me: "Your determination is inspiring."

Not only has he spoken life into my dream, he's also acted upon his belief in me. He agreed to spend the money to send me on a weekend retreat with My Book Therapy and two weeks ago he surprised me when he said I should go to ACFW, even if I wasn't ready to pitch my WIP. He told me (and I quote) "It's time to put our money where our mouth is." :)

Each time I've received a little victory on this winding road, he's been there to cheer me on. Each time I've run up against an obstacle, he's there to help me get over it. He praises me when I've done something right and he let's me cry on his shoulder when I'm feeling overwhelmed. He's never once said a word against my dream, even when I have.

So I soar to heights unknown, with the wings that my husband has given me, because he believes in my dream and tells me it was what I was born to do.

What about you? Who gives you wings to fly? What words of life has someone spoken into your dreams? What has someone done to show you they believe?