A Step in the Write Direction--May 7, 2013

A Step in the Write Direction

May 6, 2013

 

Update:

It’s been a pretty good week, mostly just working on two proofreading jobs and starting to make the selection for the father/grandfather anthology. I’m about halfway through the pile….Haven't heard back yet from the editor who liked two of the three gift books. If they accept it, it’ll have to be doubled in length from 46 to 92 pages. One is for mothers; the other for friends. Another publisher is considering six devotional books I submitted….My husband is doing better, except now he has a staph infection (MRSA) in both knees, but it looks like it’s responding to antibiotics….Lesson learned while my daughter and family were here, something I should have learned years ago: I don’t have to be right all the time. She pointed out that I was sometimes too critical in pointing out other people’s mistakes. (Do you think that comes from being an editor and proofreader??!!)

 

Thought for Today:

“You can’t take care of others unless you are in a position of being healed yourself, inside and out” (Brian Brown, Rescued [Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2013]).

 

Laugh for Today

 

“Few people have come to know the “true” story of the origin of Sinko de Mayo. It is my pleasure to set the record straight. A little known fact is that back in 1912, Hellmann’s mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico but as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York.

 

“The ship hit an iceberg and sank and the cargo was forever lost. The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning which they still observe to this day. The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course as Sinko de Mayo.” (http://nj1015.com/the-true-story-of-sinko-de-mayo-according-to-big-joe-henry)

Computer Hint:

When you’re sending the same email to many people, put your own email address in the Send To: box, then in the Copy To: box, put all the rest of the names with an opening parenthesis at the beginning and a closing parenthesis at the end. That way the recipient can't see all the other names and the recipient won't get on a bunch of other lists.

Writer’s Hints:

For those of you interested in writing devotionals, below is a sample of a typical one. (You can read more on writing devotionals and fillers in my Step in the Write Direction book. It includes a complete chapter on the subject.)

Monday, February 11

Read Matthew 18:21-35

Text for today: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times” (Matthew 18:21 niv). Use the version the editor requires.

Song (if requested, either title or one verse)

(Body of devotional—usually between 175 and 250 words)

Our daughter had been hurt by the words of her best friend.

“Maybe she didn’t mean it like it sounded,” I tried to soothe her.

 
“How else could she mean it?”

“Well, maybe she just had a bad day.” I reminded her of what a rough home life her friend had. Her parents were divorced and she had left her mother’s house 2500 miles away to live with her aunt in our town. Then her aunt kicked her out, and she was now living with her grandmother, who was very strict.

My daughter listened for a few minutes, and then interrupted, “Mom, I don’t want to understand her. I just want to be mad at her.”

How often do we have the chance to forgive someone but we don’t. We would rather carry a grudge and tell everyone how we have been mistreated. Aren’t we glad Christ doesn’t treat us this way? (151 words, but for this devotional the thought and prayer counted too.)

—Donna Clark Goodrich

Thought for today: (if requested)

Prayer: (if requested)

                                                                      ***

                                                Have a great week spreading the gospel

through the printed page.

 

Donna Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com
www.thewritersfriend.net