Happy New Year! With a colorful journal and ink pens ready, I am filling the pages with goals, hopes and dreams. I am venturing into 2021 with faith and trust in the Lord. Every moment in my life is filled with the comfort and peace God provides.

Even while vendor events and reading aloud opportunities may continue to be postponed for a while, I will be looking for ways to share the love of reading and writing. One of the fun ways I have found is by sharing videos of me reading my books, “Licky the Lizard” and “Grumpy the  Gator”.

Fellow authors and bloggers have been offering times to air videos of books being read aloud. Julie Lavender and Josephine Massaro have been gracious in helping authors share the love of reading by airing videos and information about writers.

I continue to write everyday. Stories for children, articles, devotions, blog posts and more are my writing passions. I pray before writing and ask God to give me the words He wants me to share.

I believe prayer is important in every moment. 

Ideas can be found in the ordinary times of life or in the unexpected moments. Look around outside and inside your home. What brings you joy? What causes you concern? Can you create a story from those thoughts?

Along with writing and reading my own stories, I look forward to the new stories that will be shared in 2021. Some authors will have their work published. Others will not. For me, the goal in writing and reading is to share the love of Christ in my words and actions. Whether I am the only one to read the words I have written or if the words are published, I will enjoy the writing process.

As we press onward into 2021, I pray we all will be filled with the hope and faith that God gives us each day. 

What are you reading? Are you writing? How will you make reading and writing fun in 2021?

Blessings,

Melissa Henderson