Tuesday, August 7, 2012

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?

20 comments:

  1. Gabe, I can't wait to read your 1st book! And you know I am not a natural reader. But your blog and post are so good and totally draw you in and wanting more. You are going to make an awesome author.
    Nancy

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  2. Aw, Gabe, that is so incredibly sweet!! I'm so glad your hubby told you to come to ACFW because we get to meet in like 6 weeks!! My husband did the same with me with Storycrafters. We hadn't planned to spend the money, but he saw how important it was to me and told me I could go. I said, "Thank you for believing in my dream." He said, "You believed in mine." (becoming a lawyer)

    It was sooo sweet! Made me soar.

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  3. Nancy - thank you so much for your kind words. After I read them, I had a smile on my face. I hope you can read my story one day soon!

    Lindsay - oh, I love it! We'll have to think of a special way to thank our hubbies. I believe one of the greatest things about marriage is helping the other person realize their dreams. My husband started his own business and I've been behind him all the way. I've even told him that if he ever wants to do something else, I'd support his decision. God sure knew what He was doing when He created marriage! :)

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  4. I love your husband's belief in your dream! Love it. Love it. Love it. What a wonderful love story you are living.

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  5. That's so awesome, Gabrielle! What a blessing to have that encouragement and support from your husband! It's truly incredible. Thanks for sharing your story. : )

    My husband and I have been together since we were young, too. We were in 9th grade, 15 years old. We've been together almost 26 years, married for almost 19 of those. : )

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  6. Gabe - I love hearing stories like this because my champion is the same way and sometimes I feel like people think I'm just blowing smoke. But he IS! YOU know what I mean!

    Yay for our champions who give us wings.

    Blessings,
    Becky

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  7. Yay for such a supportive husband!!! I have one as well, and there is nothing better!

    You are going to have soooo much fun at the conference!

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  8. So, so sweet, Gabrielle! Your hubby sounds like a keeper. ;) lol

    My husband also surprised me by encouraging me to go to the ACFW conference. I don't work and we're not exactly rolling in the dough, so this was a big leap of faith for both of us.

    I hope I get to meet you there!

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  9. So sweet. Sounds like a wonderful my husband. I'm also grateful to have a spouse who is so supportive of my dream.

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  10. This is so beautiful the way he is supporting you. I think my husband had to see just how serious I was about all this first. I think now, being on my 9th novel he knows. Only teasing, he knew on my 4th novel. ;-)
    ~ Wendy

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  11. Love this post.
    What a great hubby you have!

    My hubby is also my wings.

    He cheers for me, and when I'm having a tantrum or pity party, he's the first to say - "You can't just quit...move on! Get over it!"

    I don't know what I would do without him.

    He's the biggest supporter of my dream from day one.

    We are so blessed!

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  12. Love this! My husband definitely gives me wings! And uh, I so was expecting to see that one line hook! Where is it??? Congrats! Can't wait to meet you at ACFW!

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  13. Kathleen - I love his belief in me, too! Someday I'll write our love story, for now I guard and protect my journals from those early years with my life! :)

    Michelle - I love hearing about other high school sweethearts who are going strong after so many years! I'm so glad we met when we did - in so many ways we've grown up together. Congrats on 19 years of marriage!

    Becky - how awesome that your husband is also your champion! I do know what you mean! :)

    Sherrinda - I can tell how much your hubby means to you in the words you've written about him. And yes, I think I'll have a blast at ACFW!

    Heidi - I can totally relate. I stay home full time and we have a landscaping company, so we don't have a whole lot of extra cash, either, so I think that's why it means even more to me that he's willing to sacrifice in other areas so that I can follow my dream. I hope we cane meet, too!

    Julie - I don't know what I would do without his support! We make a good team, as I'm sure you and your husband do!

    Wendy - that's funny! Sometimes I think my husband shouldn't believe in me like he does until I finish the FIRST novel! I'm still plugging away at re-writing it, but in his mind, it's already published! :)

    Loree - we are blessed! That's the beautiful thing about support - it's there during the good times and the bad. Love it! Thanks for your kind words, Loree.

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  14. What an amazing testimony of champions who give wings to our dreams! Your husband's encouragement and belief in your dream is amazing. For me, my mom, sisters and best friends keep my dreams soaring - they are my biggest cheerleaders and encouragers. Families ROCK!

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  15. That's so sweet!!

    Whenever I'm asked a question like this, I always immediately answer the same--my parents and grandparents. They have supported my writing dream since I was a kid--buying me blank notebooks, reading my ridiculous prairie stories about orphans (hehe!) and never once questioning whether it would really happen. They're amazing. If I could swirl the four of them up into one person, that's the person I'd want to be. :)

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  16. Jessica - here it is (with Randy's notes):

    16) Gabrielle Meyer: Historical Fiction: A headstrong bride-to-be arrives in town and finds the groom is missing, but a hundred eager bachelors wait in line to change her mind.

    Randy sez: And wouldn't every girl on the planet want to be this girl? For sure. This has a lot of humor potential. Good job! There's a strong, strong word right in the middle of this sentence that I really love. Do you see it? Take a look and try to find it before I tell you. It's that adjective just after "hundred" and just before "bachelors". See how that massively amps up the story?

    I'm still amazed he chose it!! And I can't wait to meet you and hear that great southern accent!

    Donna - I couldn't agree more. Along with my hubby, I have a whole community of people who believe in me. Just today a friend told me she'll be the first in line to buy my book! :)

    Melissa - you're so blessed to have such amazing people in your life. I love this: "If I could swirl the four of them up into one person, that's the person I'd want to be. :)" That makes me smile.

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  17. That is something beyond words. :-) I am so glad he is there for you. :-)

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  18. Jennette - I'm so glad, too. :) Thanks for stopping by today.

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  19. LOVE THIS POST! My hubby's name is "David," too! And he's the same kind of encourager to me. I've said this before, but when I was ready to give up, he told me something along the lines of, "With your drive, you can't NOT get published someday." (This meant a lot to me since he's a very logical guy!). It's definitely something to be thankful for, since I know some spouses don't think of writing as a "job." I'm just hoping this job pays off someday! And I'd love to see that hook line, too!

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  20. Heather - I've invested a lot of time (and now money!) in this dream and I hope it pays off, too. I have that same kind of drive and I know it comes from God, because some days even I'm surprised by it!

    I put the hook line in my comment to Jessica above! Thanks for asking to see it. :)

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