We All Start Small

The billboard caught my eye. A mama, a daddy, and a cute, cuddly baby.

The caption?

We all start small.

Melted. My. Heart. How true.

The billboard touted one of our area hospitals, but what resonated and stayed with me as I drove past was that single, simple truth. We all start small.

Of course I loved the slogan concept and the family angle (kudos to the brilliant marketers), but more than that—those words lit on my heart and ignited something deep within this writer gal’s soul.

Our potential isn’t realized overnight. Rather, it’s something that’s gleaned over time—usually, through a series of fits and starts and highs and lows. That’s okay!

We “grow” bigger by learning new things, applying what we’ve learned, and reframing our focus. We adjust our thinking to accommodate the bigger picture. We’re no longer in that baby phase.

Because we’ve experienced more of life, we’ve matured. We’ve adopted new goals and tested our wings. Hard knocks have smarted, but they’ve also seasoned us and made us stronger. Ohh, how they’ve made us stronger. *Slurps coffee*

See where I’m headed with this?

Writing’s like that billboard slogan.

Starting small is actually a great place to start. Later, as we review our progress we see where we’ve been and how far we’ve advanced. We understand there’s still work ahead (because growth is a continual process), and we welcome it.

Now, I won’t fib. Some learning curves are a little windier, some more debri-cluttered.

But I digress…

Back to small.

When I re-entered the writing world five years ago, I was rusty. The talent was there, but a revamp was in order. (I’d just walked through fire. Honing my craft? Piece of cake! Well…almost. But I knew I could do it.)

I joined writers groups, attended conferences, and soaked up craft books and online resources.

I planned.

I hoped.

I dreamed.

I wrote.

I realized I was but a mere thumbprint on the picture window of writerdom, but that didn’t stop me.

While others touted numbers (and you know how I feel about that or if you don’t, you can read more here and here), I concentrated on connecting. Real honest-to-goodness coffee-drinking, cyber hugging, hold-the-hate-pass-the-love kind of connecting.

I’d started small, but I envisioned big. I knew where I wanted to be in a few years and I set to work.

Along the writing way, I cheered for the underdog and encouraged others.

As I encouraged, wonderful folks encouraged me. Some entered my life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime and I’m forever grateful.

Wouldn’t it be terrific if (in a perfect world) we all remembered our humble beginnings?

I believe it would be a game-changer. Folks might just be friendlier, more helpful and less likely to walk with stiff, starched spines.

As I won in my category in the 2015 ACFW First Impressions contest and then double-finaled in the 2016 ACFW Genesis contest, congratulations and kudos began to pour in. Those kindnesses blessed me. I remembered where I’d started—or restarted, I suppose you’d say.

My reboot happened in a surreal way—through unused paper napkins snagged from the hospital lunch room and even my sick kiddo’s tray. (He wasn’t contagious—just battling a life-threatening disease for almost five years.) On those “napkin notes” I sometimes wrote a line to a story. Some days I wrote a prayer. Sometimes, it was nothing more than one word: hope.

My small taught me to think big. To press forward. To keep on’ keepin’ on.

If I could write (even just a little) during the hard, I knew I had the discipline—and the mustard seed faith—to write when it got easier. (You may remember this post—> “Easy” Is Fun, but It’s the Hard Things That Deliver. Re-read it for an encouragement boost.)

Somewhere in each of us, deep down in our writer-hearts, we must believe we’re made for more.

God doesn’t plant those seeds of desire within us just to see them wither.

No. He brings them to fruition when it’s time. When the season’s right. When our writing ministry aligns with His will.

We grow beyond small when we recognize:

• Starting small expands our vision. It gives God room to work.
• Our desires are not a surprise to the all-knowing God. He created us with unique gifts and talents to use for good.
• Seasons come, seasons go. Age is relative in the supernatural kingdom.
• Timing is everything. His, not ours. Get ready!

So, my friend—today if you’re feeling small, own it.

Think beyond it, write past it.

But cherish the milestones along the way.

Adopt this motto: Small is the new big. 

Then believe it.

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PLEASE SHARE THE LOVE

Everyone starts small. Why you should embrace it.

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Original Image Credit: iwanna/Pixabay

 

How did you start small?

How do you think big?

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Until next time…

Much Love and Many Blessings,