Mending Fences...

#Writerwednesday is upon us again, and as I write this post it occurred to me that more often than not the women characters I write about are often plagued by some great circumstance that seems to have come about by their own hand. Many people are plagued with issues that life brings about, yet, more often than not my characters create their issues.

Most are on the road to self-destruction, while some err on the path of self-discovery. Whatever their issue may be, they all find deep within the power to get off the pity party boat, and began to carve out their destiny and take the course of their lives back into their own hands.

This past Sunday my pastor stated that "Pain is part of the process." That's true in life, and it's true in my books. To get to the healing and the growing and the restoration, you have to go through the pain. That's the only way you'll appreciate the greatness He has placed within you, is when you've gone through the test. Today's character, Naomi, is definitely going through her own test. Read on...

A Woman's Design: Afflictions
Excerpt

Convincing Sasha to give her father half a chance was not easy. She wanted no parts of it and let me know she felt betrayed by the fact that I was even speaking to Jaime, let alone wanting her to spend time with him.

“Maybe you fell for his story, Mom, but I didn’t!”

“Sasha Kennedy Blankenship, get back down these stairs, now!” I was standing at the island chopping vegetables for the grilled steak burritos I was making for our dinner. My tempestuous daughter had stomped up the stairs at our latest disagreement about her at least calling her father. This had been going on for almost two weeks now. I was getting worn down and ready to give up. Jaime had called again this morning asking if I had made any progress. It took everything in me not to get angry with him.

Here I was picking up the pieces once again where he had failed his daughter. It seemed as if I had been doing that ever since the day he walked out. I was tired, but I had to know that I had given it my all before I gave up.

She marched back down the steps with her arms crossed over her chest and her lips poked out.

“You know, you look like you did when you were four and I told you that you couldn’t wear your tutu and ballerina slippers to school.”

Sasha didn’t so much as crack a smile. I blew out a breath and set my knife down. I walked to the sink and washed my hands, dried them on a paper towel, and walked over to where my daughter stood. I pulled her into my arms.

“What are you scared of, baby? All these years you wished you had gotten to know him. All these years you visualized him in your head, and now that he’s here, you won’t give him half a chance. Are you worried that he’s going to take you from me?”

Sasha shook her head no, not saying a word. I felt her shoulders shake and knew that she was crying.

“Then, baby, what are you afraid of?”

She still refused to say a word, and then it began to dawn on me. I don’t know how I didn’t see it before. Sasha was so much like her father in so many ways. I had told her that throughout the years, and in her head, she had made him up to be fabulous and convinced herself he had died. Now it had to be a blow to her knowing he was alive and not as fabulous as she first thought. I realized my daughter was projecting Jaime’s failings onto herself, and it was impacting how she felt about herself. She was worried that getting to know him would reveal all of his flaws. And if they were revealed, she would be disappointed. That was scary to her, because to her, she was him.

Download Now...

To join this blog simply click "Follow This Blog," "Subscribe," or "Email" links in the upper right corner.

For exclusive content, contests, cover reveals, and more join my newsletter. 

Undeniably Chelle...
Living Life Beautifully Inspired!