“Your mother is dying.”

My mind understood the doctor’s words, but my heart refused to believe them. Only a few days prior, my ninety-four-year old mother had taken a day trip to Reno with my husband. How could she be dying?

Why now, God?

This was supposed to be the weekend I would put the final touches on my novel before sending it to my agent.

Too many circumstances in the past six months had kept me from diligently writing. Moving in with my mom after her stroke. Readying our house for sale. Packing the things of my own I wanted to keep. Thanksgiving, Christmas, visiting with my daughter’s family on their return from overseas. Stomach flu – three times in two months.

And now, this.

I was afraid.

Afraid if I don’t keep writing, my agent will drop me.

Afraid if I don’t finish my next project soon, I’ll never find a publisher.

Afraid if I don’t keep blogging and posting on social media, I will lose the tiny bit of platform I’ve gained.

Afraid to watch my mother die.

Like the song from Christian recording artist, Zach Williams, “Fear, he is a liar.”

God’s word is the truth.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope

Proverbs 16: 9 Thee mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps

Though I’m afraid and overwhelmed, God is showering me with His peace as I meditate on His word. I encourage you to ‘take His yoke upon you’ so that He can give you rest.

Christian Author, Jane S. Daly

After a successful career in banking, Jane dipped her toes into writing after a life-changing event – the death of her 30-year-old son. Her book, Because of Gracehas given hope to many mothers who have experienced the same shattering grief. The Caregiving Season was born from the years spent caring for her elderly mother. This original Caregiving Blog was published during her caregiving years.

Now with seven novels published, Jane is addicted to coffee, purple pens, and her husband, not necessarily in that order. A self-proclaimed introvert, she enjoys the solitude of riding shotgun in Rigsby, her 37-foot motor home. But when they pull into a new campground, her favorite thing is to make new friends and find hangouts featuring local musicians. Her fantasy involves writing lyrics for country music songs and hearing them played on the radio. In the meantime, she’ll stick to writing novels. And seeing as much of the country as possible.